Mayor Janet Holborow's Report

It’s been around six weeks since the start of the term, and there have been so many highlights already, not least in Ōtaki.

We have such an incredible group of Councillors and Community Board members who’ve put their hands up to serve our communities. Ōtaki is well served with a committed community board, and an excellent Ward Councillor in Shelly Warwick who brings a wealth of experience and community connections.

To top it off Ōtaki also has representation from Districtwide Councillor Rob Kofoed, who is keen to bring his experience to help council with quality town planning.

We started the new council term in Ōtaki, welcoming Darren Edwards, our new Chief Executive, with a pōwhiri at Raukawa Marae. Darren is already bringing the fresh approach that Council needs, and has an ability to include and connect both councillors and staff.

A sadder occasion at Raukawa Marae was a visit by Council to pay respect to Te Waari Carkeek who was a Chair and member of Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti for many years. His knowledge of the history of our area (and wider) was immense, and he was deeply respected as an author and an authority on so many subjects. Thoughts are with whānau and friends. A highlight of the past month was visiting the new Shed Project premises at the Ōtaki Māori Racecourse. The Shed Project started in Paraparaumu at the old Statue Bargain Barn in 2014. They provide training and employment opportunities for local disable and disadvantaged people, through enabling people to achieve their personal goals, removing barriers to employment and opportunity, and encouraging inclusion through participation in social and fundraising events, setting up and administering community enterprises to create employment, and other activities fostering community well-being.

Their focus on art and practical skills is also a social enterprise, and much of what they do is funded through funds generated by sales of their creations and goods.

The new space has enormous potential for a variety of activities, and I enjoyed a music and dance session hosted by Shane McAlister. It was particularly great to see one of the newer members who’d been isolated through Covid (and until now) coming out of his shell and participating. On the same day I caught up with the fantastic staff at the service centre at Ōtaki Library. Their role is so important, not only providing council services, but also dealing with many local issues on the ground. The visit was organised by Regional Councillor Penny Gaylor. Penny and I are committed to working together to address the challenges both councils share for the betterment of our local communities.

It was wonderful to attend the Ōtaki College Senior Prizegiving and I’d like to congratulate all of the rangitahi who were recognised not just for their sporting and academic achievements, but also their service and care for others. Their achievements are even more impressive given the unforeseeen and unprecedented challenges of the past few years. Their resilience and determination is an inspiration.

Further afield, It’s been a busy few weeks forming connections across the region and country, not only for elected members but staff too.

On 10 November senior Executive

Assistant Jess Mackman hosted Executive Assistants of Mayors, Chairs and Chief Executives from across the region, meanwhile our new Councillors and Community Board members were down in Wellington on a training day, and the next day I hosted as the new Chair the inaugural Zone Four meeting of Local Government New Zealand for this term. Last week was just as busy with an event by Waka Kotahi to update Mayors from across the country around transport challenges and strategies. This was followed by the Regional and Provincial

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meeting, where the discussion focussed on government reform, including health, insurance and our plans for the next three years as a sector.

On to Council matters, which most importantly included signing of the governance arrangements — which provide more input from community boards and iwi — with the creation of two new committees around Social and Environmental sustainability. Ngā Hapu o Ōtaki and the Community Board met this week to explore ways they can work together, and I look forward to a continued relationship with Ngā Hapu as we address the significant challenges in Ōtaki and continue the development of Ōtaki as a unique, culturally vibrant and environmentally focussed hapori. Finally, my congratulations to Energise Ōtaki who won the Heritage and Environment Award in the Wellington Regional Airport Community Awards at an event attended in Wellington by Deputy Mayor Lawrence Kirby. As Mayor I have the honour of being on the judging panel, and I know they came through against extremely stiff competition. This award is well deserved. Thanks to Energise Ōtaki and all the nominated groups from Kāpiti; your work in our communities make them what they are.

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Out and about with Shell

SHELLY WARWICK – OTAKI WARD COUNCILLOR

I would like to give a big shout-out to all the wonderful volunteers for the massive amount of work they do to make our community what it is. I cannot name them all, but have had the pleasure over the last month of attending a few events which highlight the work that goes on in our community.

I attended the Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade (ŌVFB) honors night on 22 October. The ŌVFB members are men and women who are a very special type of volunteer. A lot of us volunteer to help out at many things, but these volunteers never know when they are going to be called out, early morning, middle of the night, weekends. Often there is not an ambulance or police available in our town and so the ŌVFB are the paramedics or police by proxy. They are called to falls in homes, medical incidents, motor vehicle accidents, severe weather events, as well as the odd fire. They are back up for the police and ambulance, if needed, and are called out of town to support Levin and Waikanae fire brigades if they have big events. This often this takes them away for many hours. They must leave their work and/or home and family, and sometimes for hours or days on end. It is tough emotionally as they have to deal with very heartbreaking incidents and accidents at times. It is selfless commitment to our community and they are heroes for our community in so many ways. Many were honoured for years of service, not least Graeme Rankin who received a gold star for 25 years. Our ŌVFB chief is knocking on 50 years' service and Brent Bythel has already reached that milestone. If you see them around, please say thanks to them and also thanks to the families who put up with the middle-of-the-night call-outs and disruption to family time.

I also recently got to spend a lovely morning collecting for Breast Cancer with Chris Kendrick. Our community is very generous and keen to put their hands in their pockets for a good cause. Thank you, Kirsten Housiaux, for once again organising the collectors — a voluntary role you have done for years — and giving up your time to get all us collectors organised. Without people like you this would not happen. And then on Saturday 19 November I had the pleasure of attending the Ōtaki Players' production of Frozen Jnr . All actors were children and it was absolutely fantastic. Thanks to the kids who gave up their time to practice and produce a great show, to the army of mums, dads and the creative team who spend months of volunteer time to bring us these local shows. Ōtaki Players have been around for over 70 years, 30+ in the Civic Theatre a building, which they have poured their love and hard-earned money into. Thank you, Otaki Players for all you do for our community.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by those who make you happy.

Meri Kirihimete

Shelly

Kāpiti Coast Art Trail 2022

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY

Blue skies predominated over the recent Kāpiti Coast Art Trail, with only the last Saturday putting on a relay of notorious showers.

It was great to wander around the more than 125 award-winning, established or emerging local artists, all displaying their work as part of the Trail, and be inspired (often surprised) by the enormous range of media from painting and photography, jewellery and upcycled creative works, ceramics and textiles.

Artwork was exhibited in galleries, working studios and art workplaces with the weather bringing out happy crowds. Artists reported a busy four days, “busloads of people,” with plenty of sales.

“There was something for everyone to enjoy,” said Kāpiti Coast District Place and Space marketing and events manager, Sonja Williams. “And this year we introduced a more contemporary brand, innovations such as rewards cards with discounts and deals on local beverages, food, clothing and sunglasses.”