“As whānau face continual upward pressures on their households each week, we don’t see this service reducing anytime soon.
“Over 150 meals were and still are being prepared each week and delivered frozen to members of our community, those in isolation, self-imposed isolation and those who are needing the comfort of a home cooked meal. Some food is grown and sourced locally and utilized as we know that eating food that follows the flow of nature is better for us.
“As government positions changed without notice, our staff on the ground were quick to adjust and adapt, taking the brunt of the community backlash with a smile and doing it all again the next day.
STATE HIGHWAY 1 next to Kathmandu 06 364 6742 Your local EVERYONEcaféistalkingabout!•All-day menu til 3pm •Dine in or take away •Wheelchair access •Parking at rear •Gifts, books, tshirts, art •Gift •Openvouchers7daystil late pm •Cafe opens 6.30am •Coffee cart opens 5.45am • riverstonecafe.co.nz Te Kura-a-iwi FirebrigadeWhakatupurangaORuaManoFocuspage16Priscillareviewpage3CapitalConnectionRefurbishmentpage22SkyTowerChallengePage28
BY PENNY GAYLOR Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently visited Raukawa Marae to meet with Ōtaki youth and learn about the local Te Puna Oranga o Ōtaki Covid response. Ōtaki MP Terisa Ngobi accompanied the Prime Minister on to the Marae, joined by Mayor Gurunathan, GWRC’s Cr Penny Gaylor, and Ngā Hapu O Ōtaki CEO Mataki Rarite, for a powhiri and to hear from Moko Morris about the work of Te Puna Oranga. Senior students from Ōtaki College and the two Kura attend the powhiri, with three relishing the opportunity to ask PM Ardern questions. Terisa Ngobi says she invited the Prime Minister “to come along to learn more about the mahi Ōtaki community continue to do in the Covid response space, but also listen and talk with rangatahi.”
Ōtaki Rangatahi meet PM
Establishedin1892 © otakimail@xtra.co.nz www.otakimail.co.nz 027 664 8869 September 2022
“We have had a great community-lead Covid response in the Ōtaki community that I am extremely proud of. Everyone came together to deliver a great Covid response, guided by Moko Morris and her team at Te Puna Oranga o Ōtaki,” says Mrs Ngobi. Mayor Guru says it was a revealing experience. “Outside of the marae we had the protesters with placards demonizing the Prime Minister for harming children, while inside she was interacting with about 25 students in a Q&A session with an empathy that was empowering especially for the female students. We were all really impressed. It was sad that this amazing role model is being denigrated by these protesters,” says Mayor Guru. Moko Morris’ speech spoke to the local experience of dealing with the ever changing Covid environment. “I would really like to say our covid response was based upon careful consideration, strategic thinking and a well thought out plan, but it wasn’t. It was mixture of fear, uncertainty and driven by manaakitanga to ensure our community were ready and supported,” said Moko.
ŌTAKI MAIL
“The best advice we could give our kaimahi was get used to everything you implement this week being redundant next week and you will be fine.
“Our strength was listening to what people needed and then getting on with it using creative ways to deliver and supporting what was already in place. One of the things I have learnt from being manuhiri to Ōtaki is nothing about us without us,” said Moko.
Reevedon Retirement Village resident Vicki Webster likes to spend her mornings Vickipainting.takes up position in her front room, which she has converted into an art studio, and works away on paintings of landscapes, people, and some more abstract pieces. She says art has always been a part of her life and is a Horowhenua Arts Society committee member. Enliven’s Reevedon Village is just up the road from Ōtaki in Levin. It features 29 oneand two-bedroom villas and offers calm and quiet living just a stone’s throw away from the centre of town. Vicki has been at the village just over a year, and says she is glad to be there.
The best way to set up a testamentary trust is to consult a lawyer who is experienced in will preparation and drafting. Your will must clearly state that you are setting up a testamentary trust when you die, and a good lawyer can ensure that this provision is clearly and properly Typicallydrafted. this does not add much to the cost of setting up a will that does not include such a trust. When setting up the trust, the will maker will need to name the trustee, who will manage the trust’s assets for such time as the will provides. It is important, therefore, to appoint a trusted person to the role. If you are looking set up or revise your will, possibly including a testamentary trust, we would be only too happy to provide you quality advice and to help you generally. Contact Fleur, Susie or Freya at Hobson Mills Law, 364 7190, 282 Mill Road – opposite Farmlands.
For blended families there are a variety of ways that testamentary trust can be
One quite popular way people frame their wills in New Zealand is to include a “testamentary trust”. This is where the terms of the will name a trustee or trustees who then hold defined assets in trust for beneficiaries. A testamentary trust can be a big advantage in a variety of situations. One good example is where the beneficiaries are underage children. Another is where the beneficiary has a mental or intellectual disability, or possibly an addiction issue that could result in them dissipating their Ininheritance.thecaseof underage children, the will may set a date when the child has reached an age where it is appropriate for them to receive the asset. The will does not necessarily need to set a date, but can simply leave it to the trustee to decide when to give the beneficiary ownership of the asset.
Testamentary trusts can be very helpful
Reevedon Village is located at 37 Salisbury Street in Levin and provides independent retirement living right next door to Enliven’s Reevedon Home, which provides rest home care, respite, and a popular day activity programme. To find out more, call the village sales agents on 06 349 1409, email reevedon.sales@psc.org.nz or visit www. enlivencentral.org.nz.
tell us and we’ll sort it. Sponsored content 282 MILL ROAD, ŌTAKI PH ONE 06 364 7190 Sponsored content
This can be particularly relevant where a parent wants to ensure their child has a secure home or where there is a blended family and the spouse would like to ensure their partner is provided for during their lifetime but then the estate passes to the deceased’s children.
“It’s very relaxing, its quiet, which is the main reason for me moving to Reevedon – to find some peace and quiet.” She says her neighbours are lovely and living at the village can be as social as you want it to Havingbe. lived in Levin for about 47 years, she had plenty of visitors come and check the place out when she moved in. “When I first moved in, all these people I knew wanted to come have a look and they were all very impressed.” Residents like Vicki Webster enjoy the independence and freedom of living in their own home, but without the worry and hassle. Enliven takes care of the hard work, while residents spend their retirement doing things they love, such as painting. Those considering a move to the village can be assured further support will be there for them if needed. The neighbouring Reevedon Home offers rest home care, while sister site, Levin Home for War Veterans also offers hospital and dementia care.
Vicki finds more time for painting
Ōtaki Mail For news and advertising contact: Penny Gaylor Editor phone: 027 664 8869, or email: otakimail@xtra.co.nz Printed by Beacon Print. Delivered to every house (urban and rural) at the end of every month. If your paper doesn’t arrive, please
A life interest in a property means that the person has an interest in the property until they die. That interest then moves to the beneficiary or beneficiaries when the person with the original life interest dies.
BY FLEUR HOBSON
Reevedon morningsWebsterresidentVillageVickilikestospendherpainting.
Vicki finds more time for painting at Enliven’s Reevedon Village
2 Ōtaki Mail – September 2022
Theadvantageous.willmaker can, for example, draft one set of provisions in the event that their spouse or partner is still living when they die, and a different set of provisions if their spouse or partner does not survive Anotherthem. reason people use testamentary trusts is because of life interests.
photo credit: Bianca Rae Photography
The three protagonists are wonderful: Bernadette, is an unquiet soul at the start of the show mourning her lover and awaiting the conclusion of sex change treatments. Ably played by Corran Crispe, Bernadette is the matriarch of the group, providing comfort and acerbic comment in equal measure. Nor is she lacking in other strengths as she demonstrates with some swift knee action when threatened by a bunch of homophobes. The “Girls” camp it up with great elan, energy and exuberance, ably abetted by the Divas. Jessica Clough, Erin Lindley and Charlotte Kerrigan provided backing vocals and were an act in their own right. Their costumes were extraordinary, their singing precise, and Erin Lindley’s strong voice provided some important muscle to their supporting role. Enormous kudos to Wardrobe and the costume designers. The sheer array of flamboyant clothing is mind-boggling and enormously enjoyable for the audience to Similarly,see. the music. It was a small group on stage, but under the musical direction of Graham Orchard and Andrea King, they provided the soundtrack for the show. Given the enormous variety in tempo and style they had to deal with, this was no easy task. And finally, when it comes to discussing staging – the elephant in the room: The Bus. Priscilla is a character in her own right. The circular stage allows an external and an internal view of the bus, and clever lighting allows us to imagine her painted in all her lavender glory. Overall? A triumph for Otaki players. It would be hard to find a dud note in the entire production. BY PENELOPE HAINES
Priscilla: Queen of the Desert
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 3
So, what is ‘Priscilla’ about?: “Two drag queens and a transgender woman head into the Australian desert …”. It almost sounds like the start of a bad joke, but this show is rich, generous and energetic. The plot is a tad thin, but it’s easy to overlook this in the energy, good humour and exuberance of the show. Three performers are contracted to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs. They are an ill- assorted group, and there are significant tensions – in particular between the ladylike Bernadette and the young, crass Felicia. In the lavender bus named Priscilla, they head west from Sydney on an epic road trip, encountering a number of strange characters as they widen their horizons and step outside their comfort zones. Yes, there are incidents of ugly homophobia, but the overarching theme of this show is tolerance. This good cheer, coupled with a great musical soundtrack of hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s makes for a gaudy, fabulous, funny and highenergy evening of entertainment. The musical is adapted from the 1994 Australian cult comedy film ”The adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the desert,” and I was interested to see how this stage show would manage without the iconic vastness of the red Australian desert, such a feature of the original Imovie.needn’t have worried. This rollicking performance by the Otaki Players; the glitter, the sequins and lights; the fabulous (and over-the-top) costumes, and pulsating music more than make up for the loss of the dusty outback. The choreographers have done a wonderful job. The dancing being energetic, wellrehearsed and a pleasure to watch. One iconic scene from the original movie remains – the aria sung from on top of the bus. In this version, Felicia mimes and lip-synchs while the operatic vocals are supplied by a lovely Hannah Chisholm.
Recently I attended the opening night of “Priscilla,Queen of the desert – the musical”. Did I enjoy it? Well that would be a resounding “YES”, and I can’t recommend this show highly enough. It’s being staged at Southwards Museum theatre rather than in Otaki, and when you realise the show involves a bus being on stage, you will understand why it couldn’t have been performed at Otaki Theatre. It was a lovely evening of entertainment that began with the warm welcome afforded by the suitably glitzed up and glamorous front of house crew.
Council Elections
With Ōtaki poised for massive growth, what are the needs of Ōtaki and Te Horo and what are the questions we need to ask Candidates? Do they support the Electrification of rail services from Waikanae to Levin?
Mart: Te Horo School, 123 School Road, Saturday 10 September. Gates open at 11.00am. A Christmas theme at Ruth Pretty’s Christmas is fast approaching at Ruth Pretty’s Springfield. ‘Magnificent Christmas in Madrid’ focuses on Ruth’s love of Spain and its cuisine. “The food and ethos around Spain mesmerises me more than any other country,” says Ruth, who promises you’ll go home after this class with ideas and recipes for your own Christmas feast. Dates are from October till December 10.00am to 4.30pm. The wonderful Ruth Pretty Christmas cakes and puddings are available from the Kitchen Shop and online from Tuesday 4 And,October.remember, ‘Father’s Day Bistro’ on Sunday 4 September, 12.00pm to 2.00pm in the Garden Room, a hearty threecourse meal featuring beef rib eye with Yorkshire pudding and horseradish cream. Te Horo Country Market Te Horo’s monthly community market is on Sunday 4 September 10.00am to 1.00pm, wet or fine, at Te Horo Hall, School Road. A wide range of locally grown and produced goods is on offer, including jams and preserves, award-winning olive oil, free-range eggs, natural skincare, and arts and crafts such as mosaic mirrors, quilt work, driftwood arrangements, sculptures and bird feeders, linens and knits. Drinks and Nibbles Stay warm and dry at Te Horo’s monthly BYO get together at Te Horo Hall, School Road, Friday 2 September 5.30pm. All welcome, bring a plate of finger food to share and something to drink.
BY VIVIENNE BAILEY Te Horo School fundraiser The iconic country fair, Paddy’s Mart, Te Horo School’s major fundraiser, is back next month after a two-year hiatus. The renowned Cow Pat Bingo also makes a return – a local cow in one of the fair’s grided paddock lays a ‘pat’ (a certain amount of waiting can be involved). The ticket holder of the cow pat containing square (there are 625 squares) wins $500. Other popular events include Smash Palace – a place to get rid of stress and frustration by throwing a piece of wood at a pile of crockery – and, a favourite for the grown-ups, brown-paper-wrapped Mystery Bottles (these could be shampoo, olive oil, sauce or alcohol). If you are hungry there are plenty of food outlets such as the yummy cake stall with gluten free, vegan, nut free and dairy free options, the café and BBQ. Games like commando (kids love this), face painting, book stalls, plants, bric a brac, plenty of locally grown and produced preserves (jam, chutney, marmalade and much more) are on offer as well – a funday out for the whole Paddy’sfamily.
Do they support a more Regional and less Bureaucratic approach to 3 WillWaters?they commit to far greater support for environmental initiatives in Ōtaki as a balance to greater urbanisation and growth? Do they support an alternative through-route bypassing Main Street, Ōtaki?
4 Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 Grant Robertson HighwayMainNZ enquiries 8350364 2008REAAlicensedLtd, Ōtaki First National is the real estate specialist for Ōtaki, Te Horo, Manakau and surrounds. Lifestyle or Residential, whether you are buying, selling or renting, you will always be treated as our top priority. 238 Main Highway Ōtaki 06 364 8350 GBR Realty Ltd licensed REAA 2008 Grant Robertson 021 660 grant@fnotaki.co.nz113 Travis Robertson 022 152 travis@fnotaki.co.nz6629
A Slice of the Action The last ‘DevelopmentremainingBlock’ on the very edge of Ōtaki’s Main Street. 2.07Ha, estimated to contain a potential 62 Withhousesites.anincreased Central Government emphasis on Affordable housing, it would be hard to find a better placed property!Contact Travis and Grant for further information
Do they support further re-zoning of Industrial and Commercial land in Ōtaki for job growth? Will they actively lobby for the above! Please exercise your vote and have your say!
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 5
6 Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 At The Old School House 174 Waerenga Road tel 06 364 7075 • Facials • Microdermabrasion • Eyebrow shape & tint • Eyelash tints • Manicures • Pedicures • Makeup • Electrolysis • Waxing • Red vein removal • Skintag removal • Ear piercing • Bleaching debs@oldschoolbeauty.co.nz www.oldschoolbeauty.co.nz Old School Beauty & Electrolysis 'Make Time for You' GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE Lucy PhysiotherapistFeltham General physiotherapy no ACC surcharge direct referral for ACC & private manualshoulderconsultationscourses&sportsphysiopost-oprehabhandtherapy 16 Dunstan Street Ōtaki phfeltham@xtra.co.nz/fax0636470279am-6pmMonday-Friday P2 for Ōtaki BY MARGARET ANDREWS With a coat of paint and a new, revamped interior and purpose, the former Sports Bar now has bright new future as the P2 Health Collective, a base for several health providers to work with Ōtaki people.
To date, appointments and clinics on various days are available for physiotherapist Ash; podiatrists Delta and Hashan Ali; osteopath Maadi Waugh; Ōtaki midwives Jade Devlin and Jacki Tesoriero – both keen to work with local mums and mums-to-be; and nutritionist Sophie Dunn. And the first person clients see as they enter the building is the welcoming receptionist, Michelle.
“We have a duty of care to treat a person; if I’m not the right person for their issue, I should be able to pass them on to another,” Ash said. After standing empty for a number of years, Ash purchased the building back in October 2021. It was completely stripped-out and rebuilt inside, making five consulting and treatment rooms, as well as staff facilities. There’s even a small rehabilitation gym for those recovering from injuries. Ash Crawford and his young son, Ari Crawford, outside the recently revamped and opened P2 Health Collective on the corner of Main and Te Rauparaha Streets.
“We have no set plan as to what it should be,” Ash said. “It’s like-minded practitioners who are keen to support the local community.”
For several years, physiotherapist Ash Crawford and partner podiatrist Delta Hurley ran the P2 office from their home, but he had ideas of a bigger base where a variety of health workers could work with patients and clients in Ōtaki.
As a rongoā, Pākaiahi was traditionally used to strengthen the immune system, improve digestive function – digestion, assimilation, elimination – and heal respiratory infections. We’ve seen really strong bugs in the last few years; Pākaiahi has the mana for confronting these. It’s such a vital rongoā in these modern Wetimes.have Pākaiahi rongoā as an extract in The Rongoā Shop & Dispensary, (inside Māoriland). Pop in when you’re next in the area and check what Pākaiahi looks like. We have a few of these taonga on display. They are a work of art xx
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 7 The Rongoā Space BY JOANNE HAKARAIA Rongoā of the Month PᾹKAIAHI ( Ganoderma applanatum )
These magnificent fruiting bodies are most often found on trees that are dead or dying. They are of a vast mycelium network that can extend throughout an entire forest. They are sometimes known as Artist’s Conk or bracket fungi, but I first learned of them as PĀKAIAHI – the keepers of Infire.times past, it was used as a fire-starter. It could burn for long periods of time and was often used in damp forests. Because of its strong burning capabilities, Pākaiahi was also used as a rongoā for building and strengthening immunity. It can eliminate dampness and warm the body. They help our body deal with pathogens by ‘turning on’ the immune system to recognise different types of disease and imbalance to come back into coherence with the natural flow of the universe. It is a fire-starter that ignites the puku (stomach) and liberates the primordial wisdom within. Where trees represent solar energy and bring light into darkness; mushrooms represent the underworld and are lunar, dark, and Imysterious.seePākaiahi as the soul of the forest. These mushrooms gather the intense power of a rākau rangatira (large tree) and transform it into a dense powerpacked rongoā. They alchemize the dead tree into a live mushroom. Drinking an extraction of Pākaiahi is literally like sipping the forest itself – asking for the whenua (land) to bring back life, to remove the dead, dying and unwanted growths and invasions that have overtaken a depleted body and soul. Pākaiahi is a fire-starter and a life restorer – a taonga to be revered and honoured for their deep wisdom.
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Manakau United’s second team, Manakau Tuakana Teina won both its latest Itmatches.defeated Waikanae Wolves 6-1 on 13 August and beat Waikanae Coasters 4-3 on 6 August. The scheduled 20 August match was rained out.
mixed medley relay and the 4x100 metres mixed freestyle relay. The team broke the Samoan national records in both events. He also came close to a personal best time in the 50 metres backstroke when he clock 28.37 seconds. His best time for the event is 28.22 seconds.
The meant that Ōtaki Kāeaea just missed out on winning promotion to division one next season. In its latest match, the Ōtaki women defeated Upper Hutt thirds 12-0 on 14 August.
Kokoro is a member of the Ōtaki Titans Swimming Club. As well as swimming for the Titans he is also a member of the coaching team. Four Titans travelled to Auckland for the New Zealand National Open Age Group Championships held between 23 and 28 August. Kokoro is one of the team, along with
Everyone is welcome, including children, to the Ōtaki Bowling and Pétanque Club’s open day on 11 September.
Although he did not progress beyond the heats, Kokoro emerged with one new Samoan record and a share in two others. He broke his own national Samoan 50 metres butterfly record when he clocked 26.00 seconds. He was also a member of the first ever Samoan Commonwealth Games relay teams, swimming in the 4x100 metres
All equipment will be supplied so people at the open day can have a go at either bowling or pétanque or both, and find out just how good it is to play these two sports. Flat shoes are recommended. As well as the free sausage sizzle and refreshments, the bar will also be
Ōtaki’s Commonwealth Games swimmer Kokoro Frost in action Ōtaki Kāeaea undefeated' BY FRANK NEILL Ōtaki’s women’s football team is just one of two teams to remain unbeaten in round two of the Wellington Women’s division two competition – one of just two teams to do so.
“Everyone is welcome to the open day, including families. It’s for all age “Wegroups.have had people come to the club and they are absolutely startled to see the facilities we have here," he adds.
Three Titans have qualified for the Wellington Junior Swimming Championships to be held at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre on 24 September. They are Ruby and Lucy Rasmussen and Carys Watkins.
“I was in awe of everything we did,” Kokoro says. He is now looking forward to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, should he be selected. If he is selected, his goal will be to qualify for the next round of competition following the heats.
Rebecca Moynihan, Phoebe Nelson and Imogen Waite.
Featuring a free sausage sizzle and refreshments, the open day will begin at 11 am at the club, located at 15 Waerenga Road, and will run to around 2pm.
Try your hand at bowls and pétanque
Commonwealth Games was 'awesome' BY FRANK NEILL Competing in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was an “awesome” experience, says Ōtaki swimmer Kokoro KokoroFrost. represented Samoa in five events in the pool, and is the only Samoan swimmer based in New Zealand. Taking part in the Commonwealth Games for the first time “was an awesome environment to be in,” Kokoro says. “It was great to be able to mingle with athletes I have looked up to. “I just tried to be a sponge – to soak up as much as I could from the other Samoans and the other athletes.”
Christina TuitupouTimotea in action in the final game of the season against Upper Hutt Thirds on 14 August. Christina has been named Ōtaki Kāeaea’s most improved player2022.for
Vote Marylin Stevens Otaki Community Board
Ōtaki drew its match with Kapiti Coast United Hearts 0-0 on 30 July and also drew 2-2 with Paekakariki on 23 July. With the division one league competition now finished, players move onto finishing the Kapiti Cup knockout competition. The next scheduled match is another local derby between Ōtaki Purutaitama and Manakau Hui Mai in the cup quarter final.
A week earlier they beat Wainuiomata by default. Their two earlier matches both ended in 1-1 draws, the first against Stop Out on 24 July and the second against the table topping Island Bay United Makos on 31 July. The Makos, like Ōtaki Kāeaea, have finished the competition Followingundefeated.its final match of the season Ōtaki Kāeaea named Christina TuitupouTimoteo as the season’s most improved player and Rebekah Wright as the Most Valuable Player of 2022. The Ōtaki men’s team has completed the league competition with a fourth-placed finish on the ladder. In its latest match Ōtaki Purutaitama defeated Waikanae Strollers 5-0. The local derby between Ōtaki Purutaitama and Manakau Hui Mai, played at Haruātai Park on 6 August saw the home team take out a 1-0 victory.
12 Ōtaki Mail – September 2022
MARILYN STEVENS has demonstrated her commitment to our Otaki Community over three trienniums on the Otaki Community Board, two of those as Deputy Chair; Chair of the Otaki Community Network Group; Deputy Chair of the Foodbank; committee member of Otaki Health & Wellbeing Group; member of the LGNZ National Executive of Community Boards and has also been very involved with the PP20 project, as an affected landowner she has attended as many meetings as possible ensuring the peoples voices get heard and is an advocate for an interchange at Peka Peka. She has been a Rotarian for almost 30 years working in her local communities and has now been inducted as District Governor for Rotary District 9940 which spans from Taranaki to Dannevirke and down to Wellington (47 clubs) local and global community commitment is always at the forefront of her mind.Authorised by Marylin Stevens – marilynandwayne@yahoo.com
Theopen.aim of the day is to introduce people to the two sports. “Our job is topromote and advance bowls and pétanque in the community,” says Ōtaki bowler Paul Selby.
Ōtaki Kāeaea finished in third place on the table with 19 competition points, the same as North Wellington New World Churton HoweverPark.theChurton Park team finished with a better goal difference. Ōtaki Kāeaea scored 32 goals in the round while conceding just six for a goal difference of 26. Churton Park scored 47 goals and conceded 17, for a goal difference of 30.
Late in the first half Morehau ConnorPhillips also dotted down after a cut-out pass saw him unmarked for an easy run across the line, giving his team a 10-0 half time lead. Another outstanding pass from Mason Couchman to Lincoln Timotea saw Lincoln add to the tally 20 minutes into the second half.
The club, Mr Cameron says, is very grateful to its sponsors – About Kitchens, Body n Soul, The Telegraph Hotel, Concrete Doctors, All Area Scaffolding, Mac Engineering, Hammer Hardware Ōtaki, H/K Phoenix Palm Services, McClutchie – Marama, Reo Kings, Let’s Get Physio and Tall Poppy (Jayden Matthews and Brendon Keenan).
BY FRANK NEILL The Ōtaki Sport Club has won Squash Wellington’s men’s division three winter Theycompetition.became the champions when they defeated Masterton Red Star 11-7 in the final, played in Masterton on 26 July. Ōtaki qualified for the final having won all but one game in the lead up. This loss was in their match against Masterton Red AnStar.outstanding fightback by Declan Prentice played a significant role in Ōtaki’s victory. Declan was down by two games and trailing 12-13 in the third. However he fought back to win not only the third game but the fourth and fifth games as well to finish with a 3-2 victory. Hannah Grimmett joined the men in playing, and won her finals match 3-2, while Simran Singh won 3-0. Kent Pollard suffered his only loss of the season when he went down 0-3. Callan Nikora and Abe Growcott were also members of the title-winning team.
The Whiti Te Rā whanau with their trophies. Ōtaki wins squash title
Morehau placed the icing on the cake with just one minute left on the clock when he scored his second try. Aaron Taiapa kicked two conversions. Following the match, Wellington Rugby League named Whiti Te Rā’s Manaia Osbourne as player of the match.
Authorised by Cameron Butler – cpbutlernz@gmail.com
Whiti Te Rā are the champions BY FRANK NEILL Whiti Te Rā created history in winning the 2022 Wellington Rugby League premier Coachedchampionship.byKahuraCameron, the Ōtaki team became the first side to keep their rivals scoreless in a final when they defeated Porirua Vikings 20-0 at Hutt Recreation Ground on 13 August. In doing so they retained the Appleton Shield which they also won last year. Whiti Te Rā has a highly impressive record, having played 10 grand finals in the last 10 years, winning nine of them. They played in the Manawatu competition until 2015, winning the championship in 2013, 2014 and 2015 before switching to the Wellington competition. Since 2016 they have won all but one grand final. The Vikings looked to be the stronger of the two teams for the first quarter of this year’s grand final, but great defence by Whiti Te Rā saw the scoreline at 0-0 after 20 Theminutes.Ōtakiteam then turned the tables, spending much of the next four minutes on attack before Aaron Whitikia pounced on a loose ball the Vikings lost close to their line and crossed for a try.
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 13
It was a landmark game for Aaron Taiapa, as he took to the field for his 50th game in the Wellington premier competition. Aaron joined three other long-serving players – Tanira Cooper, who has played more than 100 games in both the Wellington and Manawatu competitions, and Matthew Faiumu and Atawhai Osborne who have both played more than 50 Whitimatches.TeRā qualified for the final with a resounding 36-6 victory over St George Dragons on 6 August.
Gardening with Garden tasks for September
Lawns Now is the perfect time to sow new lawns. Feed existing lawns with lawn fertiliser – make sure you water-in well.
Flower garden
Asian greens are a versatile bunch of vegetables and herbs and, once you’ve grown your own, you’ll never buy another bag from the supermarket. They grow quickly and easily (fast to germinate, ready to start picking in a month) given moist, fertile soils, and many are cold-weather crops that do well in autumn and winter. Some are tolerant of both hot and cold conditions (another positive), and our temperate climate suits many.
Complete pruning of fuchsias, hydrangeas, hibiscus and other flowering shrubs by removing diseased, dead or damaged branches – try to get this finished before any vigorous spring growth. Continue planting dahlia tubers and gladioli corms for a colourful summer display. Divide and replant primroses and polyanthus after flowering. Feed flowering spring bulbs with a sidedressing of bulb food to ensure growth and the development of flowering spikes for the next season.
It’s easy, at this time of the year when water seems to be everywhere, to forget that in some areas of your garden plants may slowly be expiring from lack of water. Under a hungry and overhanging hedge, plants can become too dry, so attention to individual water needs is important at this time of vigorous growth. Pot plants are also easy to overlook; as many of them reawaken to new growth, their need for water and fertiliser increases.
Focus on growing Asian greens
Spray stone-fruit trees with copper and bug-oil to protect from leaf-curl disease and prevent brown rot.
Brassicas, mizuna and mibuna (also known as Japanese greens or Chinese lettuce) are vigorous, cut-and-comeagain plants. They produce numerous stalks and feathery, dark green leaves with a mild, non-pungent, crisp taste – great raw in salads or cooked like spinach, added to stir-fries or pickled. Mizuna will happily grow all year round, although constant moisture and fertile soil with a good mix of drainage is essential – if you let mizuna dry out it will quickly go to seed. Prepare soil before planting by adding lots of well-rotted manure or compost, and plant seedlings 30cm apart; spring, summer and autumn sowings will ensure a constant supply. The deeply jagged leaves come in red and green. Green is the most common, although Kings Seeds offer ‘Red Coral,’ which has dark purple leaves changing to deep maroon at maturity (40 days). The crisp leaves have a sweet, mild-mustard taste. Mibuna has a slightly stronger flavour than mizuna. ‘Green Spray’ is an extremely vigorous, high-yielding Chinesevariety. celery, or kunn choi, looks much like normal celery, but doesn’t grow as tall and the stalks are a little rounder. The flavour is stronger and it’s ready to eat in about half the growing time of regular celery. Like all celery, it needs to be well fed and watered to do its best. As a bog-loving plant, copious water is essential, which can mean nutrients are leached faster than normal, so it likes to be fed plenty of well-rotted manure or compost. There is also the edible chrysanthemum (shungiku), which is highly valued in Oriental cooking. This spicy, aromatic herb (tastes the way chrysanthemum smells) is usually grown for its young shoots – they add a special flavour to soups and stir-fries – but the pretty, yellow flowers can also be sprinkled over dishes just before serving. ‘Small Leaf’ is available from Kings Seeds and produces small, dark green serrated leaves, which can be harvested 30 days after sowing. Continual sowing will ensure an on-going supply, but it’s worth remembering shungiku is not frost-hardy – if you want it over winter, plant in a warm corner or grow in a pot inside. Chinese chives, gow choy (Chinese) or Nira (Japanese) is an attractive perennial related to the common chives, but the wide, flat, solid leaves have a mild garlic rather than onion flavour. The blossom is a flat-headed spray of star-shaped flowers which smell faintly of roses. If grown indoors on a sunny windowsill, they’ll perfume your kitchen and can be as pretty as any flowering houseplant.
Spray for Onehunga weed and broadleaf weeds with a turf- or prickle-weed killer – be prickle free this summer.
Hemercocallis (day lilies) can also be planted now. These come in a variety of forms and colour – they are a delight in the summer garden with their cheery flowers and attractive foliage. Feed and mulch roses, trees, shrubs and flower beds.
Te Horo Garden Centre Main Highway & Te Horo Beach Rd Te Horo Ph 364 2142 We have some treasures for you – CAFE NOW OPEN!! FEIJOAS 4 varieties available. From early to late fruiting. Including Self Fertile “Unique”. NEW SEASONSCITRUS Available also on dwarf “Flying Dragon Rootstock” which is great containers.for DAPHNES Pink and White 2 sizes to choose from. Fabulous Mothers Day Gift.
Vegetable and fruit garden Prune passionfruit vines and feijoas to encourage new growth and fruiting. Plant out strawberries, blueberries, brambles and rhubarb.
Plant out new perennials like lavender, agapanthus, canna lilies, fuchsias and geraniums. Sow your favourite summer flower seeds – alyssum, wallflower, cosmos, celosia, dahlia, gazania, gerbera, impatiens, petunia, viscaria, begonia and Californian Plantpoppy.out summer seedlings of spring and summer flowering annuals – calendula, hollyhock, pansies, polyanthus, marigold, chrysanthemum, delphinium and cornflower.
Second thoughts
Continue planting early-crop potatoes after sprouting –remember potatoes can also be grown successfully in a tyre or large plastic bag filled with good quality garden mix. Complete your vegetable garden preparation by digging in plenty of compost.
14 Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 to fromcomeLloyd
Sow veggie seeds of carrots, beetroot, silverbeet and peas directly into the garden. Sow lettuces, leeks, cabbage, tomato, capsicum, courgette, eggplant and cucumber into trays of seed-raising mix ready for transplanting later. You can transplant summer vegetable seedlings into the garden: lettuce, cabbage, leeks, onions and silverbeet.
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 15
BY VIVIENNE BAILEY viv.bailey@xtra.co.nz
Most native birds don’t take food from bird-tables or feeders. Hanging out bags of fat and nuts encourages introduced birds, such as blackbirds and sparrows, –species that can be aggressive, deterring our indigenous birds. It’s far better to stock your garden with favourite bird foods to bring wildlife flocking.
A spring favourite: heavenly scented Boronia
Just a wee vase of dark-brown and gold bell-shaped blooms brings the welcome scent of spring inside our homes. Brown boronia ( B.megastigmal ) has captured the imagination of generations of gardeners. It is justifiably one of our best-known, spring-flowering shrubs with an intense, lemon-scented fragrance that wafts throughout your garden. Delighting the senses, it begs to be positioned near a door or gateway. The fine, feathery, almost needle-like foliage also provides year-round perfume. The small, evergreen shrub grows into a bush of around one metre by one metre and is one of more than 60 species, which now include several bicolour and dwarf forms – many with pink or mauve flowers. However, the brown boronia, particularly the variety, ‘Heaven Scent,’ is the most fragrant. Unfortunately, it also tends to be the shortest-lived, seldom lasting beyond 4–5 years, but can be easily propagated from cuttings using young stem tips at a half-ripe stage. Boronia is an Australian import, named after Italian botanist, Francesco Borone (1769–1794), and prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Like many Australian natives, boronias love the sun (approximately six hours per day of sunlight is preferred, but in very hot places don’t leave them devoid of all shade). Some will tolerate very light Avoidfrosts. adding lime to soil – the plants require acid conditions like that of camellias and azaleas. They can be grown from seed: August/September are good planting months (just remember the seeds are hard-coated and will benefit from soaking in hot water before sowing).
To encourage birds into your garden, supply food, water for drinking and bathing, and areas of shelter. Use a wide range of plants and incorporate fruiting shrubs and trees to provide food throughout the season, as well as nesting sites and shelter. Plant mixed hedges, or shelter belts on a larger property, instead of single species hedges, to provide a variety of food sources and nest Asites.corner planted in fruiting shrubs will give an area of cover for birds. Leaf litter should be left – it encourages insects, beetles, spiders, moths, wetas, earthworms, katydids and stick insects – delicacies for silvereye, greywarbler and fantail. Morepork and kingfisher also enjoy insects (as well as mice). Daisies, achillea, monarda, bugbane, alliums, astrantia, sedum and many other flowers draw insects, and provide food for searching birds. Most native plants are yummy for birds, but some are clearly bird friendly. Corokias are great: their autumn berries provide food and the tangled shape provides shelter and nesting sites. Wineberry ( Aristotelia serrata ) and kamahi ( Weinmannia racemosa ) are also good food sources. Ngaio ( Myoporum laetum ) is not only a useful shelter plant, but its summer-ripened fruit is a favourite with bellbirds and tui.
The flowers of kōwhai ( Sophora tetraptera ), flax ( Phormium tenax ) and rewarewa ( Knightia excels a) provide a feast for nectar-seeking birds, but avoid planting too close to the house as reflections on windows can confuse birds. A Department of Conservation report showed a number of kererū are killed every year trying to fly through panes of glass – a distressing way to die for such a beautiful bird.
Kākābeak ( Clianthus puniceus ) has red (also white), beak-shaped, nectar-rich flowers and was historically cultivated by Māori as fodder for caged tui. If you’re short of space, kākābeak can be standardised, but make sure you allow the plant to flower so birds can benefit.
the Ō taki Mail
A garden of birds
They’ll need a light prune immediately after flowering to maintain shape, and to assist re-growth. It will also prolong the shrub’s notoriously short life – don’t count on a life span of more than 5–7 years. Mother Nature has designed it that way deliberately: in Australia it usually regenerates from seed after being destroyed by Althoughfire. the small brown or yellow flowers won’t win any beauty contests, a newer variety, ‘Purple Jared’ produces larger, burgundy blooms. Other varieties include ‘Harlequin,’ a form of brown boronia, which produces red and yellow flowers; the pink-flowered B. fraseri , best known for ‘Southern Star’; and the mauve B. denticulata – one of the hardiest members of the genus – the erect, compact bush carries masses of starry blooms on branching flower stalks. But the real showoff is B. heterophylla , which has fine, green, delicate foliage, smothered with bright, rosy-red bell-shaped flowers from late winter to early summer. It can grow as high as Another1.8m.showstopper is B. pinnata , which is tougher than other species and produces waxy, pink flowers from aromatic leaves – although the blooms are less scented than other varieties. B. muelleri is another pink-flowered variety, which is also available in white. B.pilosa has deep-pink flowers; ‘Rose Blossom’ is an attractive, double form.
Red-hot pokers provide an excellent summer nectar source, and the long-flowering abutilons are a favourite.
Birds also flock to bottlebrush, banksia and the Chilean Firebush ( Embothrium coccineum ). Aloes start flowering in the depths of winter when bird fodder is scarce; their nectar-rich flowers act like beacons for birds. If you’re serious about encouraging birds to your garden you will need to be insect-tolerant – spraying destroys the food supply.
Feasting tui swooping from kōwhai and cherry blossom, low-flying kererū bashing around in your pūriri, yep, it’s springtime! Cheery companions when gardening or out walking, these feathered spring visitors encourage a ‘feel-good’ optimism, banishing remnants of winter Ifgloom.you’re designing a new garden, or redeveloping an old, try to create a setting where your avian friends will also be at home – it will double the pleasure you get from the garden.
Pūkengatanga – we enjoy a wider skill base than most kura because as a collective of individual whānau we bring a diverse range of skills to the table. As a kura we seek to foster the skills and special talents that our tamariki possess. Kaitiakitanga – we are the kaitiaki (guardians) of our children, our kura, our environment and all taonga of our hapū and iwi. Whakapapa – it is incumbent upon the kura to establish our relationship with the three iwi of the ART confederation. Te reo – Te Reo Māori has a prominent role in the kura. We must commit to learning and using Te Reo Māori in all contexts.
BY FRANK NEILL Growing strong, capable future leaders who are high achievers is one of the main aims of Te Kura-ā-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano (WRM). Based in Tasman Road, WRM is a Kura-ā-Iwi, a total immersion school for years 0 to 15. Its roll currently sits at around 165 students “We educate our tamariki from a viewpoint of the ART confederation,” says the kura’s Principal Keremihana TheHeke.ART confederation comprises three iwi – Atiawa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The focus of WRM is, therefore, on “our history, our tikanga and our truth,” Mr Heke [pictured] says. “We educate in Te Reo Māori only, but we don’t really teach Te Reo Māori, we teach in Māori.” That is not to say that WRM does not have Te Reo Māori classes. It does, for example at NCEA level. “Our tamariki learn Te Reo, but that is not the main reason we exist. “We are here to grow strong, capable future leaders as excellent representatives of the ART Foundation and other iwi.” Aotearoa/New Zealand has come through a stage of its history where there was a viewpoint that it was not beneficial to be Māori. “We are changing that belief system,” Mr Heke says. “We are letting our tamariki know that it is good to be part of Ngāti Raukawa and it is, in fact, even better. “We are making sure our tamariki are high achievers and able to make sure of their future. “The most important thing is that we want students to be able to contribute to their whānau, hapu and iwi. “That might be one of the differences between us and mainstream schools.
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Students at WRM are performing with distinction, both academically and in non-academic areas such as sport. A very current example is the performances of Te Rangihuia Henare, who won five gold medals and two bronze medals at the World Waka Ama Championships in London in WakaAugust.Ama is part of the WRM Curriculum, and the school has been very successful in the sport, Mr Heke Thesays.kura’s curriculum also includes hunting, sailing and diving for kai such as kina and paua. The kura’s high performances academically include students gaining degrees and diplomas as well as performing well in NCEA WRMassessments.alsopromotes current students participating in studies provided by Te Wānanga o Raukawa. The kura first opened in 1999, resulting from a strategy developed in 1975 by the Art Conferederation, which identified that there was just one person aged under 30 years living in Ōtaki who could speak and understand Te Reo Māori. The Whakatupuranga Rua Mano strategy had a series of objectives, •including:knowing that our marae is our principal home; • understanding that Te Reo Māori is a treasure and that treasure needs to be nurtured; and • our people are our strength. When it first opened, WRM was based at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, who provided a classrooms and kitchen facilities. The kura then moved to its present site in Tasman Road in 2005.
“We are quite proud of who we are and what we are and what we do.”
“We are not here to promote the success of the individual. We are here to promote the success of the whānau, hapu and iwi,” Mr Heke says. “We also serve people from other iwi.” That includes Pakeha and people who have come here from other parts of the world.
This is well summed up in two Eproverbs:koreau e ngaro. He kākānō I ruia nai I Rangiātea – I will not be lost. I am a seed of Rangiātea. (Rangiātea went to the highest heavens to retrieve the kete of Whaiaknowledge.)teara o Tāwhaki. Follow the pathway of Tāwhaki. (A descendant of Māui, Tāwhaki successfully climbed a vine to reach the highest of 10 heavens.)
Ōtaki – Education Town Developing the leaders of the future
A special character school, WRM is guided by 10 mātāpono (principles) – the same 10 principles that guide Te Wānanga o Raukawa. These mātāpono are: Manaakitanga – showing respect, generosity and care. Rangatiratanga – for the kura this means that we should strive to achieve excellence for our children. Whānaungatanga underpins all that the kura does. Whānaungatanga binds groups together and impels each member to work for the benefit of the collective. Kotahitanga – we will achieve our aims if we act in concert. Unity is our strength. Wairuatanga – if we contribute to the kura we empower ourselves, and enhance the wairua of the Kura. Ūkaipotanga – those places and people who provide sustenance.
Sophie Sails on Spirit of Adventure
• (NZ Scholarship)
Many students have been concerned around the impact that sickness and teacher absences due to COVID-19 have had on teaching, learning and assessment this year. Last week, after a long time waiting, NZQA announced that in 2022 students will be entitled to Learning Recognition Credits. This comes as some form of relief to the ongoing disruption we have faced in 2022. The following outlines how these Learning Recognition Credits will be applied: In 2022, students will be entitled to 1 Learning Recognition Credit (LRC) for every 5 credits earned through assessment, up to a maximum of: Level 1 maximum of 10 Level 2 maximum of 8 Level 3 maximum of 8
Technology
• Music (NZ Scholarship)
As a response to this, and after consultation with teaching staff, it has been decided to add an additional two early finishes to our current Thursday early finish which is used for staff professional learning and development. At this stage the additional early finishes will be on Wednesday and Friday. Early finishes will start on Wednesday 31 August and will take place until the end of the term when this will be reviewed again. School buses will be asked to adjust their times accordingly.
Education for Sustainability
Scholarship)
Depending on which sail station you were on you would be doing either Nightwatch or Specials. Nightwatch was when during the night your watch group would each stay up for two hours with your partner to log in the coordinates, wind speed, wind diameter. Checking that we are not drifting out to sea or to land or if the engine room has any smoke coming out or flooding. Some people ended up falling asleep but we don’t talk about that!
My sincere apologies to whānau for any inconvenience that this may cause. I would urge whānau to contact me if supervision for Period 6 is required on any of the early finish days as there will be staff available to provide this.
• (NCEA Level
Careers Expo Career Guidance is an important part of the services that are provided to students by the College. They play a key role in assisting students to, not only understand the opportunities that lie beyond College, but also to provide pathways to achieve this. My sincere thanks and congratulations to Steph Putt, our Careers Counsellor and Gateway Co-ordinator, who has played a key role in the planning and delivery of the combined Careers Expo held recently at Southwards Car Museum. Education Review Office The College has commenced its partnership with the ERO team which will be ongoing through a review process for the next 3 years. This new approach differs specifically from past reviews which were based on a 3–4 day visit to the College. This new approach allows for ERO and the College to build a strong relationship which supports ongoing school improvement. After an initial two days, it was heartening to note that the review team could not fault the College in terms of compliance around policies and procedures and were very excited about the teaching and learning that was taking place. I look forward to reporting more on this relationship as things unfold. Response to Relief Crisis Each day is incredibly challenging to keep the College open for instruction while we continue to face a severe shortage of relieving teachers. As I have stated in Newsletters, it is only the goodwill of staff, who are giving up their release time to undertake internal relief, that enables many classes to continue to run in the course of a day. In many cases, teachers are becoming extremely tired and are unable to fulfil other duties because of internal relief.
From the Principal Andy Fraser
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 17 Ōtaki College News September 2022 www.otakicollege.school.nz
3)
The dates for Visual Arts and the Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko Common Assessment Task (DCAT) are not changing.
When you were on the Main and the Mainstasale (sails) you were on ‘specials’. Specials are where you’re
• (NCEA Levels 1–3 and NZ Levels 1–3 and NZ
• Health and Physical Education (NZ Scholarship)
working in the Galley with the cook and making sure everyone has rinsed their dishes then put them into the dishwasher. You have to serve everyone food as well. For me doing the dishes was a natural thing to do because when on a marae you have to make sure that you do your part to help keep everything running smoothly.
•Scholarship)Designand Visual Communication (NCEA
A final reminder that voting for BoT positions is open until 7 September. I would urge everyone on the College electoral roll to view the candidate list and vote accordingly.
To be awarded University Entrance, students will need 14 credits in each of two UE Approved Subjects, and 12 credits in a third UE Approved Subject (they will also need to attain NCEA Level 3 and meet the regular literacy and numeracy requirements).
From 28 July to 7 August I went on a Spirit of Adventure Voyage. We had to hand in our phones and anything that was personal that we didn’t want to get wrecked somehow. We had ten days without any technology, which for some people is very difficult. I only missed my phone for an hour or two but then forgot about it because I was always too busy working and getting to know my Everyshipmates.morning we had to get up at 06:30, get changed into our togs and walk around the deck until it was time for warm up. Some days the deck would be wet and cold so all our feet would start to get numb. After our warm ups we would have to jump into the ocean. Some days it would be freezing cold but other days it would actually be pretty warm, even in Oncewinter.we finished our morning swims we would get changed and have breakfast. Every morning after breakfast we had colours which was a debrief with everyone on the ship learning a couple new things and having a thought of the day. As soon as we had finished the debrief we had to do a massive clean of the ship before we actually did some sailing and learned about the sail stations that we were on that day.
Dance
To receive a Certificate Endorsement, students will need 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, instead of the usual 50.
At the time of writing this, I am acutely aware that we are now at a critical time of the year for senior students and NCEA. In Week 9 we will have derived-grade exams. These are incredibly important because the grades obtained in these exams are the ones used by NZQA should any student be unable to attend their external exams due to sickness or injury. I make a special request to all whānau to encourage and support their children to take time to study before these exams to get the best outcomes possible.
Some days we would go to land and play some games and just have some time on land. One time we went to Great Barrier Island to have a bonfire, roast some marshmallows and have a sing song. We had been told that each voyage had their song that they sang pretty much all the time. For us it was Riptide. Singing that song with everyone, even if you are bad at singing, was just Nearamazing.the end of our trip we talked about values. What are they? Where do your values come from? What are your values? We talked about how not to focus on the bad stuff in your life and to do something productive instead. It had gotten heavy but in a strange way for us in a good way because it brought us together even more. The crew had told us “on the day you guys are leaving you will cry. You may think you won’t but you will.” For me personally I did because I made such great friends from all over the country and two in Canada, one in France and Australia Perth. I am so grateful for this experience and to Matua Andy for offering me this amazing opportunity and those who helped me prepare for my trip. It was something that I would remember for the rest of my life and recommend to others.
The submission dates for some externally assessed portfolios have also been moved back one week – this provides some relief but avoids overlap with end-of-year examinations. This will apply to the following subjects:
Board of Trustees Election
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Capital connection carriage refurbishment
Recently Kāpiti Councillor on Wellington Regional Council Penny Gaylor and Kāpiti Coast Deputy Mayor Janet Holborow received an exclusive viewing of KiwiRail’s Capital Connection carriage refurbishment work.
Ōtaki Repair your fix
The current Capital Connection carriages in service today are British Rail Mk II carriages, that were refurbished for the Capital Connection in the late 1990’s. Minimal refurbishment work has been undertaken since then, and they have corroded quite badly in that time, so they are very much at the end of their lives. They all had corrosion repairs a couple of years ago just to extend their life a little bit to the cost of approximately $3.5m which was funded by Waka Kotahi.
“Of course this is the necessary stopgap until we secure the Government funding for our GWRC bid for four brand new trains that will provide a minimum of four morning plus four afternoon services from Ōtaki to Wellington.”
“To ensure the Capital Connection service can continue, the governemnt has funded, via the NZ Upgrade Programme, a rebuild of nine carriages, says Cr Gaylor. “This is at a cost of $23m – $26m for the carriage refurbishment, and $3m to lift the platforms at Ōtaki, Levin, Shannon, and Palmerston North.”
Deputy Mayor Janet Holborow was impressed with the refurbishments.
“Also on the tour was Chair of GWRC Daran Ponter, and it was timely to see a range of stages of the rebuild, and we were all impressed with the work.”
Zero Waste Ōtaki Update
BY JAMIE BULL We were delighted to receive notification recently that our application to become a registered charity was successful –another really positive step in our Thedevelopment.firstintake to us of Te Hunga Rangatahi completed their time recently and, on their last session, a small group made bird boxes which they took away with them. This was organised and overseen by Alan. They looked great, so now we just hope the birds know how to use Despitethem.the weather, we continue to have a steady flow of visitors onsite with both interesting drop-offs and a steady uptake of timber for a range of projects, including framing for a door that a dog had chewed; timber to create garden bedsl stakes for holding plants; and firewood. We have also had some unsolicited drop-offs, which puts a real strain on our volunteers, especially when it is not suitable for recycling or reusing in any Andform.we are very happy that our open / closed sign, which had been ‘borrowed’, made its way back to us after a time away. At this stage we continue to open every Wednesday morning 9.30–10.30am and the last Sunday of the month 9.30am – 12 noon. Please wear shoes. Cash and internet banking only. We are located on Riverbank Road next to the transfer station. Come and have a look or, better still, come and join our happy band of volunteers. Your bike need work? Come for a ‘bespoke’ repair at our next Ōtaki Repair Café.
From 10am till 2pm on Sunday 11 September, Ōtaki Memorial Hall will host skilled repairers volunteering to fix your broken bikes, electronics and clothes. In a new twist, owners can now send an advance description of their bike’s issue, so that repairers can aim to have the right parts there on the day. Bikies, look out for Ōtaki Bike Space’s Community Fix-it day in late October, too. Ōtaki’s part of the rapidly growing Repair Network – now including Raumati South –which hosts its first Repair Café on 18 September. Last month, Repair Café Aotearoa NZ presented a Right to Repair petition at Parliament with over 12,000 signatures. If enacted, producers and retailers will have to ensure their products are repairable. Making it easier and cheaper to repair items would help, too. Meanwhile, you can’t get more affordable than ‘free’. Ōtaki Repair Café is run by great volunteers. Their emphasis is on skills-sharing, and the benefits go both ways. Steve Lang fixes mechanical items like sewing machines, vacuum cleaners and gramophones! He says that helping with Repair Café provides “a sense of purpose and usefulness”, and it encourages visitors to repair with him so they expand their skills too. Do you have skills to share? For this and any (e.g. bike repair) queries, please email Hanna com/Energise.Otakinet.nzatCaféincludingEnergisecom.otaki.repaircafe@gmail.atDetailsonallŌtakiprojectsŌtakiRepairandBikeSpacearewww.energise.otaki.andonfacebook.
right: Janet Holborow; left: Penny Gaylor below: Penny Gaylor views the before, during and after stages of the refurbishments Keep up to date with our activities via our Facebook page; or zerowaste.otaki@gmail.comemail to go on our mailing list; or visit zerowasteotaki.nz
22 Ōtaki Mail – September 2022
Café–get
“It’s incredible to see these units re-used and transformed into comfortable, modern carriages, and great to know there’ll be plenty of space for bikes onboard, as many in Kāpiti cycle to the train, says Cr “ItHolborow.wasalso great to hear that local designers and contractors have been working on the carriages, and they’re work is absolutely international quality.”
Ōtaki Repair Café volunteer Steve Lang fixes a gramophone
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 23 Day tours or overnight kiwi spotting luxuryCabins&IncrediblebirdlifeFantastictoursbushcoastalwalks&tents TO BOOK: 0800 527 484 kapitiisland.com
voters. They do this to draw a veneer of objectivity over their opinion or prejudice. It’s called confirmation bias and involves selecting only the facts that support your opinion. In the three weeks between the All Blacks’ series loss to Ireland, television sports commentary on the imminent sacking of their coach ran with video clips of wild passes, dropped balls and missed tackles. The coach’s claim of a marked improvement in the first test against the Springboks was widely ridiculed at the time, only accepted later when it safe to do Rugbyso. journalists cannot play the ball. They can only play the man, either a referee or the coach or the captain. The man, this winter, was the All Blacks coach, Ian “Foz” or “Fozzie” Foster. As with all journalists, rugby hacks want to see the rightness of their opinion confirmed in a firing or a resignation. In making the second test against South Africa a “last chance saloon” for the coach, they put all their money on an All Blacks’ loss and Fozzie’s rapid replacement by Crusaders’ coach, Scott “Razor” Robertson — a re-run of 2009 when the contest for the top coaching job was between Robbie “Dingo” Deans and Graham ByHenry.putting the coach’s job on the block and emphasising the adversity of playing at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park — the “cauldron” as it was universally dubbed — at altitude and in front of a crowd of snarling, beer-swilling Boers, the pre-match hype had the All Blacks headed for certain defeat. Which made their win all the sweeter, Fozzie’s redemption assured as the cauldron came off the boil in the final ten miutes when the All Blacks demonstrated their superior skills, discipline and fitness, decisively defeating the Boks 35-23. Although the result was one in the eye for all the rugby journalists who had been piling on the coach before the match, they merely “pivoted” to get back in step with the fans, overjoyed at the win and relieved to see their team back on form. The loyalty of sports fans is a kind of love and is unconditional. Fans are loyal through thick and thin.
By Manakau’s Tom Frewen
Media Muse
ONNATURE-INSPIREDKĀPITIISLAND!
BE
“Dear John,” the letter began badly, “Get ready to vote in the local elections.”
“Are your details correct?” the commission asks, wanting to ensure that my voting papers will be sent to the right address.
According to Journalism on Line (“Real Information For Real People”) there are nine types of journalism: investigative, watchdog, online (digital), opinion, broadcast, sports, business, entertainment and political.
Just as rugby journalists hammered away at their narrative of the decline and fall of the All Blacks, political commentators are weaving their fantasy around threats to democracy itself from extremists, conspiracy theorists and assorted nutters.
Overlapping between the nine categories renders the list about as useful as a menu in a noodle soup joint. But there are two categories that I definitely do not want to be associated with: sport and politics. Journalists in both categories claim, often without any research or evidence, that their opinions are shared by fans, taxpayers or
In politics, voters are more fickle, swinging left and right in the wind between elections which, it must remembered, are the cornerstone of democracy. They are also the definitive snapshot of popular opinion at the time they are Forheld.political commentators, elections are what international test matches are for rugby journalists; they earn a living from speculating on the outcome of elections. Their preoccupation, however, with political parties and their leaders leads them astray from issues of current concern to voters.
On television, their confirmation bias involves the repeated use of footage of the violence on the final day of the February protest at Parliament that routinely accompanies any reference to the protest itself or associated anti-vax, misinformation and conspiracy theory Whilestories.reinforcing the Government’s line that the protestors had been duped by “misinformation” spread by political extremists and conspiracy theorists, the media then could not hide their disappointment that the second protest at Parliament on Tuesday 23 August was completely peaceful. After reporting that Wellington was “braced” for disruption, roads closed, bollards positioned and police deployed, the Australian-owned NZME’s Herald pivoted to post-match analysis with this headline: “Parliament protest ‘more like a campaign launch’: Why Brian Tamaki’s gathering fizzled”. NZME’s rival, Stuff, rebranded from Australian Fairfax Media and now owned by one of its New Zealand executives, drew on the Parliament protests for an on-line “documentary” called “Fire and Fury”. At times comically melodramatic, it claims to expose the leaders of extreme far-right groups and the anti-vax movement behind the protest and candidates in local body elections aligned with groups such as Voices for Freedom. “Dangerous voices looking to fill the vacuum in our democracy” warns Janet Wilson in the Sunday Star-Times, published by Stuff. Online, Wilson’s column contains a video clip from “Fire and Fury” in which a reporter doorsteps Selwyn District Council candidate Elizabeth Mundt about her alleged links to Voices for TheFreedom.“vacuum in our democracy” that Wilson identifies is to be found on seats around local council tables that could be taken by conspiracy theorists and their fellow travellers. Voters cannot be trusted to make their own judgments. The confidence that Americans have in newspapers and television news has fallen to an all-time low, according to the Gallup polling organisation. Just 16% of them say they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in newspapers and 11% in television news, both measures down five percent since last year. The ever widening gap between journalists’ fantasies and public perceptions based on real life experience will lead to the same outcome here. Mainstream media are doing it to themselves. The so-called documentary, reviewed uncritically by most journalists with the notable exception of Graham Adams on The Platform but including Radio New Zealand’s Mediawatch, was made with funding from NZ on Air which has provided Stuff’s production company, Stuff Circuit, a total of $1.87 million over the past four years — one expenditure of hard-earned taxpayer dollars that you won’t hear journalists complaining about.
When my voting details arrived in the mail from the Electoral Commission I ripped the envelope open with my teeth and extracted the enclosed single sheet with trembling fingers.
After informing me that the local elections will be held in October, the Electoral Commission, obviously under the impression that I am some kind of moron, explains the purpose of local elections: “This is when we choose who represents us on our local councils.”
The Electoral Commission, with the Justice Ministry, is responsible for administering the chaotic campaign donation laws that are currently costing taxpayers and enriching lawyers by untold millions of dollars in court actions against three political parties, New Zealand First, National and Labour.
Breaking into a sweat, heart racing, right on the edge of a full-blown panic attack, I quickly scan the letter. Name: correct; date of birth, correct; occupation “WRITER”. Phew! This was what I was worried about. I thought I might have been listed as JOURNALIST.
Materials for the line materialsSome were able to be moved on newly laid line. But others had to be transported by sea or road.
Selected from early New Zealand newspapers, as written and published a the time. Building the main trunk railway line The big change for Ōtaki in the early 1880s was the building of the main trunk railway line. This took place over several years as land was bought for the railway to go through and the line was then built. The development stimulated economic activity and interest in the whole area which was welcome after several years of depression.
Labor is in every form becoming plentiful, insomuch that workmen cannot be obtained in sufficient numbers. Merchandise, also, is being conducted on a sound basis, and it only requires a little care in the regulating on supply and demand to ensure that the future of the city and province shall soon eclipse the brightest period in their former history. New Zealand Times, 28 March 1882. The optimism continued as the line was built: The annual meeting of the WellingtonManawatu Railway Company (limited) was held today, and was largely attended. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Chairman said that 58 miles out of 83 miles were already under contract. The remainder of the line was very easy, and the total cost would be considerably under the Engineer’s original estimate. A much better line than the original Government one had been adopted, and for 60 miles, the railway grade would be 1 in 10 instead of 1 in 50. Great credit is due to Sir Julius Vogel for the successful floating of shares and debentures in London. Votes of thanks were passed to the Directors and to Mr Higginson, chief engineer, Mr Wallace, secretary, and the officers of the Company. Auckland Star, 3 April 1884
24 Ōtaki Mail – September 2022
Discussion about the route There was an argument in Parliament whether the lower North Island section main trunk railway should run from Wellington to Foxton or through Masterton to Woodville: Mr Sutton said that the only place that would get any benefit from the railway was Otaki and the adjoining districts. The freight from Wellington to Foxton would be 25s and 35s per ton by railway, and the people would not pay that sum while they could get their goods carried by steamer at 10s per ton. Wairarapa Standard, 21 August 1880.
A sense of optimism and opportunity The first general meeting of shareholders in the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company was held at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, at 4 p.m. The room was crowded to the door by the attendance of gentlemen representing the leading mercantile interests throughout the provincial district. New Zealand Times, 5 July 1881.
The Manawatu Times reported on 7 April 1884 that: For the No. 3 contract (Wellington to Foxton), the following tenders were received:- Manawatu Steam Shipping Company, 14s per ton; Chas Seager, 15s per ton. The former was accepted. On 30 August that year
there was an advert in the Evening Post for a contract to cart supplies: Advertising The Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company advertised frequently for materials, workers and services. They did not have a logo as we understand them today but their adverts were illustrated with graphics in the different newspapers. We have several of these thePostEveningtheTimes,ZealandNewfrom1885,Februaryfromtheand
Wairarapa Standard. All photos courtesy of the Alexander Turnbull Library.
� J-(ARVEY BOWLE� FUNERAL SERVICES n c. HOR�WHENUA CREMATORIUM Knownfor Excellence. Trustedfor Value. •Our company has been serving the families of our district for 98years •Chapels in Levin, Shannon and Otaki • Cemetry Memorials •We own and operate Horowhenua •LargeCrematoriamvariety of Caskets and Urns
Father's Day is 4 September and we have a huge range of gift ideas, covering topics such as hunting & fishing, biographies, history, thrillers, crosswords, and lovely picture books for children about their Laterdads. in September we will be celebrating the launch of local author Patricia Donovan's new novel, The Collections, on 17 September, at 4pm. Patricia's third novel is another gripping page-turner. Set in a dystopic future, The Collections conveys a not-inconceivable world that we could all be heading towards. It’s 2041 and extreme measures have been taken to save the planet and humanity. The government has legalised Collections – the compulsory euthanising at 70 year old – but Claris Millar, who works in a Collections depot and has been a law-abiding citizen, begins to question the ideology. Limited places so please rsvp otaki@booksandco.co.nz, if you would like to attend The NZ Children's Book Awards were announced recently with some notable winners. Gavin Bishop's Atua: Maori Gods and Heroes won three awards, including the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year. Other winners were Ruth Paul's Lion Guards the Cake, which won best Picture Book, and Leonie Agnew's The Memory Thief, which won the Junior Fiction prize. I recently attended the Booksellers Conference in Auckland where I was fortunate to meet some wonderful booksellers from up and down the country. It was great to share experiences and to listen to keynote speakers Scott and Stacey Morrison about their books, which have done so much to foster the learning of te reo Māori. Other speakers covered online sales and marketing and how we, as an independent bookshop, can build our business in the face of the online sales giants. For us, it's all about community relationships. We love meeting and getting to know our customers, so that we can choose books that will be of interest. Hopefully there is something for everyone. Happy Father's Day, The team at Books & Co
sports,
A few months later the New Zealand Times said on 28 March 1882: The contract between the Government and the Directors of the WellingtonManawatu Railway Company has now, we understand, received the signature of his Excellency the Governor at Christchurch. There need now be no further delay in commencing operations, and measures ought at once to be taken – as no doubt they will be – to call for tenders. … We are glad to find that the prospect of undoubted prosperity, of which this undertaking gives promise, has already had the effect of imparting an upward tendence to business in all directions.
OTAKI IN THE NEWS – 1880s
Aging Cats: Behaviour and Problems
• Hyperthyroidism (overactivity), hypertension, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer
• The kidneys go through changes that may lead to impaired function
• Immune systems are less able to fend off foreign invaders
Kāpiti Coast District Libraries have a large magazine collection and regularly add new subscriptions. One of the more recent additions is International Artist This magazine is described as “For artists by artists from around the world”. In this magazine they go into the studios of some of the world’s best artists who provide a wealth of knowledge in relation to their painting. A regular customer to our library (who is also an artist, recently commented about all the handy hints and tips that they provide). Although International Artist is in line with more traditional art, the Libraries have other magazines which might appeal to anyone enjoying more contemporary art eg Art NZ . Some of the more recent additions to the magazine collection are also NZ Classic Car , Capital , and Remix . If customers preferred a larger selection of magazines or newspapers, then our PressReader subscription provides same-day access to more than 3,000 newspapers and magazines from around the world.
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A well-written, sinister novel with a satisfying ending.
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Each cat ages in different ways and many of the conditions that affect older cats, if not correctable, can be managed to offer your kitty great quality of life. Your cat will begin to experience age related physical changes from between 7–10 years. Cats are good at masking signs of illness or pain. To ensure your senior cat enjoys the healthiest and best quality of life, we can: recognise and reduce factors that may be health risks detect disease as early as possible correct/delay the progression of disease improve/maintain the body’s health As your cat ages you can expect some of the following common changes: Grooming is less effective resulting in matting Nails are often overgrown, thick and brittle Some brain related changes causing excessive meowing and disorientation etc • Dental disease is extremely common, often causing loss of appetite
Close and regular observation of your senior cat helps to keep them healthy. Running your hands down their bodies daily, will help to feel for lumps and bumps and will often give you guidance as to weight changes, up or down, if done regularly. Gently lift their upper lips with your forefingers while scratching under their chins etc, will allow you to look at the teeth and gums. Check their nails by gently exposing them, so you know when they are due for a pedicure. During this daily check, note the condition of the coat and skin. Brush your senior cat regularly and with the correct brush, removing loose hair and ensuring this hair is not
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 25 Ōtaki Vets 269 Mill Road 364 6941 364 contact@otakivets.co.nz7089www.otakivets.com Come and meet our friendly team Kia ora from the Ōtaki Public Library – Te Wharepukapuka o Ōtaki
Underwater Dogs by Seth Casteel I just love this book. It is not a long read, but a delightful flick through of some absolutely fabulous photographs of a range of different types of dogs as they throw themselves into the water to chase a ball or toy. You don’t have to be a doglover to enjoy this book (I just sat there chuckling away); it is clearly a book for young and old, and anyone that needs a giggle! As described in the book: “Each image bubbles with exuberance and life, a striking reminder that even in the most loveable and domesticated dog, there are more primal forces at work. In Underwater Dogs, Seth Casteel gives playful and energetic testament to the rough-andtumble joy that our dogs bring into our lives”. Although this isn’t a new book to the library, our SMART Libraries also have more recent publications from Seth Casteel with a similar award-winning combination of subjects - Underwater Puppies, and Underwater Babies. I note that he has also produced a cat version called Pounce and also Big Dog, Little Dog which we have yet to bring into the Library. Enjoy!!
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The Modern Girl by Diana K Holmes
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International Artist (magazine)
• The skin is often thinner and less elastic, with reduced blood circulation Changes you see in your cat should not simply be attributed to old age and therefore untreatable. Owners often notice changes in their older cats but don’t consider treatment as they assume that the changes are age related and inevitable. We would urge you to discuss any changes in your cat’s behaviour or physical condition with us. An example is an older cat that starts being aggressive – this can be caused by pain either dental disease or arthritis. Older cats that start eliminating inappropriately may have difficulty climbing into the litterbox or gaining access if stairs are involved, due to arthritis (of course this could also be an infection).
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The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley A young woman, Jess, escapes her tumultuous personal life by taking refuge in journalist brother Ben’s posh Parisian apartment. She arrives in Paris to find him missing. No one wants to help find him. This book explores the darker side of Paris. It focuses on events that take place within the story’s central apartment building, on a set of fixed characters. Alone and afraid for her brother’s well-being, Jess begins investigating her brother’s disappearance. After asking questions and searching for him, it becomes clear that something sinister has happened. Ben’s investigation into a story has put him in real danger. Jess finds herself in jeopardy too. The first half of the novel connects each character to Ben and their potential motives for his disappearance. The beginning of the book seems slow and almost needs more action. Tension builds towards the latter half of the novel.
• Joint degeneration (arthritis), with difficulties jumping or climbing
A compelling historical novel of love, family and secrets, set in New Zealand in and spanning 1931 through to 2020. This great book was written by one of our local Librarians! Frances Stewart wins a beauty pageant in 1931, which wins her a Hollywood screen test. She leaves the staid Victorian lifestyle in New Zealand and becomes the 'modern girl'. She soon finds the reality behind the glamorous Hollywood façade isn’t as wonderful as imagined. Ninety years later, Paige Sinclair travels to New Zealand to meet her unknown and ailing grandmother and to see the ancestral home she is told she will inherit. Paige feels compelled to look back into her past to fulfil her need for family and connections; she uncovers family secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend for those who enjoy an easy-to-read book, written in an excellent style and set in New Zealand.
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26 Ōtaki Mail – September 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 D epression helpline 0800 111 757 Healthline 0800 611 116 Lifeline 0800 543 354 S amaritans 0800 727 666 Victim Support 0800 842 846 Youthline 0800 376 633 Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797 Community Citizens Advice 364 8664 B udgeting 364 6579 Foodbank 364 0051 Menzshed 364 8303 Community Club 364 8754 Timebank 362 6313 B irthright 364 5558 Cobwebs 021 160 2710 Community Patrol 027 230 8836 Amicus 364 6464 Pottery 364 8053 Mainly Music 364 7099 G enealogy 364 7263 B ridge 364 7771 Museum 364 6886 Historical 364 6543 Let’s Sing 364 8731 Ō taki Players 364 6491 RSA 364 6221 Rotar y 06 927 9010 FOTOR 364 8918 Transition Towns 364 5573 Waitohu Stream Care 364 0641 Energise Ōtaki 364 6140 Older People Age Concern 0800 243 266 K apiti Coast Grey Power 04 902 5680 Kids Scouting 364 8949 Toy Library 364 3411 Marriage celebrants Penny Gaylor 027 664 8869 Annie Christie 027 480 4803 D ean 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 Ō taki Collision Repairs 364 7495 SRS Auto Engineering 364 3322 Electrician Sparky Tom 027 699 3743 Concrete Work Bevan Concrete 0800 427522 R asmac 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 K apiti 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 Ō taki Library 364 9317 Ō taki Swimming Pool 64 5542 Lawyer Susie Mills Law 364 7190 S imco Lawyers 364 7285 Locksmith Ōtaki Locksmith 021 073 5955 Mowers Mower & Engineering 364 5411 Plumbing 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 Cobwebs Op-Shop Main Street Tuesday – Friday 10 –kitchencurrently10Saturday4pm–1pmneedingwareandbric-a-brac For all Kerbing, Paving, Floors, Drives, Paths and Concrete Work FREE QUOTES Phone Nathan Howell 027 554 0003 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 •Courtesy•PlasticRepairsWeldingCar s •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 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 ANGLICAN Ōtaki Anglican Rev. Simon and Rev. Jessica Falconer 06 364 7099 All Saints Church, 47 Te Rauparaha Street, Otaki. Church Service every Sunday at 10am at 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 Whakarongotaiservicemarae, Waikanae 2nd Sunday, 11.30 Levin Ngatokowaru Marae Hokio Beach Road, 4th Sunday, 11am CATHOLIC Ōtaki St Mary’s “Pukekaraka” 4 Convent Road Weekend Mass Sunday Mass, 10am Christmas Eve Mass is 7pm and Christmas Day is 9am, vaccine pass required. Kuku St Stephens No Mass until further notice. Acts Churches The HUB 157 Tasman Rd, Ōtaki, Tel: 364 6911 10.15am Family service, 10.15am Big Wednesday Ōtaki Churches welcome you 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 ŌTAKIwww.otakisecurestorage.co.nz632SecureStorage • 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 ŌTAKIwww.otakisecurestorage.co.nz632SecureStorage • 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 www.otakisecurestorage.co.nz632
Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 27 0272 436 451 06 362 6595 Manakau • Longrun coloursteel • P.V.C & Coloursteel Spouting • Repairs and Maintenance • Flashing Fabrication • Sheetmetal Work Plumbing Gasfitting 0272 436 451 06 362 6595 • Residental • Commercial • Solar Hot Water Systems • Wetbacks • Woodburners Manakau • New and re-roofing • Longrun coloursteel • P.V.C & Coloursteel Spouting • Repairs and Maintenance • Flashing Fabrication • Sheetmetal Work PlumbingRoofingGasfitting 0272 436 451 06 362 6595 • Residental • Commercial • Solar Hot Water Systems • Wetbacks • Woodburners Manakau • New and re-roofing • Longrun coloursteel • P.V.C & Coloursteel Spouting • Repairs and Maintenance • Flashing Fabrication • Sheetmetal Work Roofing Hartley ContractingElectricalLtdOtaki Generalcontractorselectrical for all your requirementselectrical Domestic • IndustrialCommercial•Farm Mobile: 021 418 751 After hours: 06 364 2070 Email: hartleyelectrical@gmail.com Contracting Ltd Otaki Generalcontractorselectrical for all your requirementselectrical Domestic • IndustrialCommercial•Farm Mobile: 021 418 751 After hours: 06 364 2070 Email: hartleyelectrical@gmail.com Hartley ContractingElectricalLtd Generalcontractorselectrical for all your requirementselectrical Domestic • IndustrialCommercial•Farm Mobile: 021 418 751 After hours: 06 364 2070 Email: hartleyelectrical@gmail.com Caring for the Kapiti Coast • Preplanning consultations • Headstones, Plaques & Restoration work • Personalised services • Fully qualified staff • Grief support • Kaitawa Crematorium & Chapel, located in Waikanae Cemetery 17 Parata www.waikanaefuneralhome.co.nzWaikanaeStreet, 04 293 6844 info@wfhome.co.nz
Talk About Me!’ Runs for four performances 15-17 September (a matinee on the 17th) at Te Raukura Ki Kapiti, the new theatre at Kapiti College. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased on Eventfinda.co.nz, at the Information counter at Coastlands, or by calling 0800
Local singer/songwriter Andrew London steps into a totally unfamiliar role next month, playing the male lead in a new musical stage show at Raumati’s Te Raukura Ki Kapiti theatre. The musical comedy ‘Let’s Talk About Me!’ Has been written by Wellington playwright & movie producer April Phillips, with whom Andrew has had a long-standing collaborative relationship, and includes 27 of London’s signature comedic and satirical original songs.
‘Let’s Talk About Me!’ Has had a long gestation. Phillips had the idea a couple of years ago but it was only when she, London and local musician Wayne Mills began talking the idea through that it began to take shape.
28 Ōtaki Mail – September 2022 KEYS cut RANCHSLIDER: Wheels & Locks - TRACKS REPAIRED WINDOW: Hinges replaced & new catches fitted KEYS: cut LOCKS: repaired or new locks fitted Phone Sam Whitt NOW 021 073 5955 Specialised repair No Travel Charge ŌTAKIWINDOWRANCHSLIDERLOCKSMITH&REPAIRS KEYS cut RANCHSLIDER: Wheels & Locks - TRACKS REPAIRED WINDOW: Hinges replaced & new catches fitted KEYS: cut LOCKS: repaired or new locks fitted Phone Sam Whitt NOW 021 073 5955 Specialised repair No Travel Charge ŌTAKIWINDOWRANCHSLIDERLOCKSMITH&REPAIRS Ōtaki Mail – a community newspaper produced monthly by Penny, Lloyd & Ann. Printed by Beacon Print, Whakatane. If you have any news, or don’t receive your paper by the end of the month, please let me know by phoning 027 664 8869. • Earthmoving / Aggregate • Drainage Site Works / Section Clearing • Drive Ways Excavation / Tarseal / Hot Mix • Top Soil / Farm Roads Phone: 0274 443 041 or 0274 401 738Window & Door Repairs I fix all Doors, Windows & Conservatories Call Mike Watson Free 0800 620 720 or Otaki 364 8886 Find me at: www.windowseal.co.nz Or like at: facebook.com/windowseal Locks * DraughtsGlassHandlesRollers*Stays*Leaks*Seals SAVE $$$$
Originally turned down by Creative NZ for funding, a successful ‘Boosted’ crowd-funding project amassed sufficient resources to complete the writing and planning stages, and a further application to CNZ, this time successful, allowed cast, band and crew to be engaged.
Director Fingal Pollock and actors Jeremy Nelson and Tracey Savage (also from Otaki) were recruited, along with musicians Michael Crawford, Greg Crayford, and Andrew’s real-life
‘It has been a little intimidating sharing the stage with a bunch of theatrical professionals, but they have been immensely supportive. It's very exciting to be singing some of my own songs in a theatrical setting, but to be honest it's even cooler to listen to the other characters performing them. There's something very gratifying about someone else performing a song you wrote - kind of like the songs have a life beyond yourself. ‘The script is very funny, the array of a dozen or so comic characters played by April Phillips, Jeremy Nelson and Tracey Savage are hilarious, and the band, under musical director Nick Granville. is top-drawer. It's a lightweight feel-good romantic tale about a guy who ‘finds himself’ against the odds. Who doesn't like a happy ending?’
The Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Sky Tower Challenge team (from left): Paris Dalrymple-Mortleman, Kieran Bloxham, Simon Black and Michael Alderton.
Firefighters well in Sky Tower Challenge
BY FRANK NEILL
‘Let’s
Let's talk about me!
partner Kirsten London, with whom he is often seen out performing. Wellington guitarist Nick Granville will be Musical Director. Says Andrew; ‘This is slightly surreal for me, and I still can't quite believe that someone would want to write a full-length musical around a couple of dozen of my songs. It's especially thrilling that April's script is so funny, poignant and insightful, and that the songs fit into the narrative so naturally. I didn't expect to be actually playing any role in the show, but now that I have been bullied into playing the lead, and we are actually in rehearsal, I find myself really looking forward to participating in its presentation.
Four Ōtaki volunteer firefighters performed outstandingly at this year’s Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge on 20 August. Paris Dalrymple-Mortleman, Kieran Bloxham, Simon Black and Michael Alderton climbed the 51 flights of stairs at Auckland’s Sky Tower, dressed in their full firefighting kit, weighing up to 26kg. Simon had a much heavier load; he climbed with an additional 18kg steel cylinder and participated in the ‘Firefighter of Steel’ category. In doing so, they raised $6,214 for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand, which has benefitted to the tune of some $1.29 million from the event. The fact the team raised more than $6,000 is “fantastic,” says team leader Simon Black, who is also currently standing for election to the Ōtaki Community Board. “The team went really well. We all love the challenge. “Paris was particularly impressive. In her first time up the tower, she finished sixth overall for all the females and was fourth in her category.” Paris clocked a time of 16 minutes 29 seconds for the gruelling climb of 1,103 steps up the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, which is 328 metres high. Originally five firefighters from the Ōtaki Fire Brigade were entered in the challenge. David McHattie contracted Covid-19, however, and was “extremely disappointed” to be forced to withdraw. In preparation for the challenge, the Ōtaki team went into Wellington five times in the weeks leading up to the event and climbed the 28 floors of the Majestic Tower three times in a row with weight vests and in full firefighting gear to simulate the sky tower climb. Although the challenge and competitiveness of the climb is one drawcard of the event, the main focus is on raising funds for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand. Every day eight New Zealanders are diagnosed with blood cancer or a related blood condition. It can affect anyone, at any age and any time in life. In addition, the organisation also supports and funds research into better treatments and into finding a cure for blood cancers.
perform
