Ōtaki Mail, May 2023

New trains for Ōtaki in Budget 2023

A pre-budget announcement of funding for a fleet of hybrid-electric passenger trains in the lower North Island has delighted Greater Wellington and Horizons regional councils. Acknowledging years of community campaigning and local-government advocacy, Kāpiti Coast’s councillor on Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) Penny Gaylor is celebrating the news that new trains are coming to Ōtaki.

“Many of us started out campaigning to save the Capital Connection, our one and only train that stops at Otaki as it runs from Palmerston North to Wellington and back each weekday.

“In the last five years GWRC has taken on that advocacy and elevated it to a pitch to get all new trains and expand the services to more options for Ōtaki.

“We secured in our GWRC budget a $70 million commitment four years ago, as part of our request to Government for them to fund the rest of the investment. We were showing we would do our part to support this huge investment.

“We then developed a Business Case to demonstrate the economic benefits. As an Ōtaki resident I know that this is a huge and welcome investment for our community. It is, as they say, a game changer.

“As a result of a Budget bid by GWRC and Horizons, the Government has agreed to purchase 18 four-car, tri-mode trains, and associated infrastructure, for the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines,” says Penny.

GWRC Chair Daran Ponter said he was relieved the Government was supporting the acquisition of critically needed trains and infrastructure.

“We’re thrilled for commuters and the climate. The current fleet of diesel trains is 50 years old and at the end of its working life. The Government’s funding vindicates the efforts of many at Greater Wellington and Horizons who poured untold hours into a business case that shows real and measurable benefits for communities, mode shift, resilience, public transport attractiveness, road safety, as well as the economic benefits of linking up more of the Lower North Island,” says Ponter. The case predicts the new trains will quadruple peak-time services between Palmerston North and Wellington on the Manawatū line, and double them between Masterton and the capital on the Wairarapa line.

It estimates every dollar spent on the new trains, which are battery powered on nonelectric track, will yield $1.83.

“The new trains will revolutionise life for commuters in the Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Manawatū, Horowhenua and Kāpiti, who need access to Wellington, Porirua and Palmerston North,” Ponter says.

“I’m sure they join me in congratulating the Government on making a climate-friendly investment in public transport that will enable more people to move to and develop our regions.”

Kāpiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow welcomes the Government’s investment in passenger rail services.

“The new trains and investment in the rail

system will significantly improve the reliability, and efficiency of passenger-rail services, making it easier for Kāpiti residents to engage in employment and education opportunities and access critical support services across the region,” says Mayor Holborow.

“This has been the result of strong advocacy by Greater Wellington Regional Council and it’s great to see the Government taking action on reducing emissions, increasing network capacity and improving the resilience of our rail network.

“Supporting growth along the rail corridor by improving transport connections is critical for our environment and our people and this investment in passenger-rail services is welcomed,” Mayor Holborow said.

above: Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Daran Ponter and Kāpiti Coast’s GWRC representative Cr Penny Gaylor celebrate the news

Firefighters taking on Sky Tower

BY FRANK NEILL

A team of four Ōtaki volunteer firefighters will take part in this year’s Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge on 20 May.

The Ōtaki team of Kieran Bloxham (team captain), David McHattie, Simon Black and Michael Alderton will join firefighters from throughout New Zealand and overseas in a competition.

The main aim of the competition is to raise money for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC). LBC provides support for patients and their families living with a blood cancer and provides funding towards finding a cure.

The firefighters will climb the 51 flights of stairs at Auckland’s Sky Tower, dressed in full firefighting kit, including breathing apparatus.

This is the same gear firefighters wear when attending a structural fire. This kit weighs in at more than 25kg, making the 1,103 steps they must climb up to the observation peak on level 51 of the Sky Tower a gruelling undertaking. They will be, after all, climbing up the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, which is 328 metres high.

above: The Ōtaki volunteer fire fighters who will be taking part in this year’s Sky Tower Challenge (from left) Kieran Bloxham (team captain), David McHattie, Simon Black and Michael Alderton diagnosed with blood cancer or a related blood condition. It can affect anyone, at any age and any time in life.

Each participant will be timed, allowing for individual and team results to be determined. To prepare for the challenge, the team has been training hard. This has included walking to the top of the Hemi Matenga track – the hill behind Waikanae – carrying weight vests.

The team has also travelled into Wellington once or twice a week in the evenings after work to climb the 28 floors of the Majestic Tower, up to two or three times in a row. They do this carrying heavier weights than they will be wearing on the day to really be prepared.

Every day eight New Zealanders are

LBC supports thousands of New Zealanders affected by blood cancer, as well as their families.

In addition, the organisation supports and funds research into better treatments and into finding a cure for blood cancers. This year's Sky Tower Challenge had already raised around $650,000 when this issue of the Ōtaki Mail went to print.

Now in its 19th year, the Sky Tower Challenge has raised more than $12 million for blood cancer patients and their families.

What happens if you can’t pay your mortgage?

BY FLEUR HOBSON

The recent rise in mortgage interest rates has meant that some people are no longer able to meet their mortgage repayments.

If you fail to meet your mortgage repayments that means you have defaulted on your mortgage.

In some cases this can lead to the lender that has provided the mortgage beginning a process called “foreclosure”.

A foreclosure involves the lender, usually a bank, taking their legal right to repossess the home and list it on the open market to find a buyer so they can recover the existing mortgage loan balance with the proceeds of the sale of the asset.

That will mean that the property is no longer yours.

Foreclosure, however, is the final act in a series of steps a lender needs to take when a person defaults on their mortgage payments, or does not fulfil the terms of loan for a number of other reasons.

These reasons include not paying rates, not paying relevant lender mortgage insurance, transferring ownership of the property without letting the bank know and damaging the property so it loses value.

Before foreclosing, a lender will need to go through a series of steps.

The first is to contact you if you miss one or more mortgage payments.

Usually banks try to work with you to address the issue with the aim of helping you make up for your missed mortgage payments.

If you are still not able to make payments, the bank may issue a “letter of demand”. This letter will outline the key details of your mortgage, how much you are behind on your mortgage payments, and a specific

timeframe to pay your arrears together with any interest or fees owing due to falling behind on your mortgage payments.

At this point it's not too late to start robust conversations with your lender and work out a payment plan to get you back on track.

If the “letter of demand” does not result in you resolving the issue with your lender they can then issue a formal notice under the Property Law Act 2007 (PLA).

This will state that you have defaulted on your mortgage and let you know how much you have to pay the lender by a certain date. The date must be at least 20 working days after the PLA notice, which must be given to you in person, is issued.

The 20 working days start when the notice is issued, rather than when it is given to you.

When the bank serves you a PLA notice, it can also notify you about triggering an acceleration clause in your mortgage contract.

An acceleration clause is a provision that allows a bank/lender to require the borrower to repay all of the outstanding mortgage loans if specific requirements (which are set out in the mortgage contract) are not met.

If you don't pay the amount specified in the note by the date outlined, the bank has the right to begin the “foreclosure” process, and sell your home to recover the outstanding mortgage.

It raised $17,500 in its first year (2005) and now consistently raises more than $1 million a year.

People wishing to support the Ōtaki team’s Sky Tower Challenge climb can make a donation at https://firefighterschallenge.org. nz/t/otaki-volunteer-fire-brigade or by scanning the QR code [below left].

Grants for Ōtaki sports groups

BY FRANK NEILL

Two Ōtaki sports groups have received more than $10,000 in the latest round of grants made by the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT).

NZCT announced its latest round of grants on 12 April, noting that it awarded $535,974 in the Wellington region.

Raukawa Ki Runga, which fields both rugby league and touch rugby teams, received a grant of $6,922 for travel and accommodation. The Ōtaki Sports Club received $4,992 for equipment.

There are 13 gaming venues in greater Wellington that contribute to these grants. The Family Hotel on Main Street is one of these.

This is known as a “mortgagee sale”. The best advice is to take action early if you are finding that you cannot pay your mortgage repayments, or you are coming up short.

There are a number of options that you can explore and getting good legal advice is highly recommended, as a lawyer can help you explore your options.

For expert advice, whatever your issue, contact Fleur, Susie or Freya at Hobson Mills Law, 364 7190, 282 Mill Road –opposite Farmlands.

Remembering 30,000 military killed in wars

BY FRANK NEILL

ANZAC Day “serves as a reminder of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving New Zealand,” guest speaker Heather Peart said in her speech at the Ōtaki Dawn Service, which began at 6am on 25 April.

“And it reinforces that we as a country should be proud of our willingness to help others and endure hardship when the need arises,” said Ms Peart, who is a pilot with the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Ōtaki RSA Vice-President Cam Ronald opened the Dawn Service, where the crowd packed the war memorial square and the area of Main Street next to the square.

Ōtaki MP Teresa Ngobi and Kāpiti District Mayor Janet Holborow were among the many who attended.

On ANZAC Day each year “we especially remember those who have given their lives for our country,” Ms Peart said.

“Since 1915 more than 30,000 New Zealand

military personnel have been killed in wars and conflicts.

“Of those, more than 9,000 are remembered on memorials to the missing and have no known graves.

“When you look at the names of our fallen on our war memorials here and elsewhere, think about the pain suffered, the lives cut short and the grief felt by those left behind.

“Speak their names so that they are never forgotten.”

“I particularly think of my family members who have served and the sacrifices they made.

“My grandfather served in terrible conditions in the trenches in France during World War One. He was a Sapper, a field engineer. He survived being gassed and shelled. He was sheltering in a shell crater when a shell exploded next to him, killing everyone in the crater apart from him. The gassing damaged his lungs and he had

difficulty breathing for the rest of his life.

“My uncle served in the Air Force during World War Two. He became a fighter pilot, flying Spitfires in North Africa, Burma and India. He was a fighter ace and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, but he also lived and worked in terrible conditions. At times he slept in ditches. He suffered from dysentery, dengue fever and jungle sores and lost a huge amount of weight.

“When he arrived home from the war my grandmother and father met him off the bus in Raglan. Far from looking like a war hero he looked like a scarecrow. His suit was falling off him and he weighed only 50 kilograms.

“All these years later my father has tears in his eyes when he tells me about meeting Uncle Alan off the bus that day.

“Many of you may have similar stories,” Ms Peart said.

Service people today “feel the same sense of service and commitment to New Zealand as those who served 100 years ago. And it goes beyond service people. Despite being

a small and isolated nation, New Zealanders’ sense of service has always been strong. It is what binds us together. It was aptly shown recently in the Hawkes Bay when people from all backgrounds came together to help after Cyclone Gabrielle,” she said.

“We all hoped that the terrible losses in World War One would have meant it was the ‘war to end all wars’. But as we all know it unfortunately was not. Our world is still ravaged, in Ukraine and elsewhere, by war.

“Today let us all think about the continuing need to stand up to those who believe might is right and who have no regard for human rights or international law.

“We should also consider what we can all do in the ongoing struggle for a better, more peaceful world,” Ms Peart said.

During the service a series of wreaths were laid on the war memorial. Those who laid wreaths included Ms Ngobi, Mayor Holborow, Ōtaki Community Board Chair Cam Butler, Ōtaki College students and the armed forces.

That was followed by a minute’s silence.

left to right: Mayor Janet Holborow; Ōtaki RSA Vice-President Cam Ronald; Otaki Community Board Chair Cam Butler; and those who have served alongside soldiers still serving

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY

New ‘state of the art’ oven to join The Kilns at Te Horo

A 30 cubic feet (0.85 cubic metre) brick soda kiln is currently under construction to join The Kilns at Te Horo. Although miniature in size compared to the twometre-high kilns already on site (the legacy of New Zealand’s renowned ceramic artist, Mirek Smíšek), they are better suited to the firing of small runs of work by potters seeking the more atmospheric, decorative qualities oil-fired soda kilns can deliver.

The kiln will be the product of a six-day workshop led by leading kiln-builder Duncan Shearer.

“The kiln is a step beyond the beehive ovens built by Smíšek in the 1970s,” he says. “Mirek, if he were around, would have been fascinated by the design and technology involved.”

Funded by a Creative New Zealand grant, the filmed workshop will provide a resource and reference for the use of

future kiln builders.

The heritage bricks used in the build were recovered from a kiln in the partial demolition of the former Wellington Teachers College in Karori. It was built in the 1970s for Dame Doreen Blumhardt – a leading potter and teacher of ceramic arts. The Blumhardt Foundation is funding the fitting out of a potter’s workshop at The Kilns.

Long-time supporter of The Kilns project, Terisa Ngobi, MP for Otaki, visited the kiln construction site recently to experience some hands-on building practise.

“I love the potential for artists, both local and from around Aotearoa, that The Kilns at Te Horo can offer, now and when the site is fully completed.”

Located on the site of Smíšek’s former pottery, The Kilns at Te Horo are expected to open later this year, once again providing a hub and focus for ceramic art in the heart of Te Horo.

Drinks

Chill out at Te Horo’s monthly get-together on Friday 5 May, 5.30pm at Te Horo Hall. BYO drink and a plate of nibbles to share. Catch up with your neighbours and meet new ones. All welcome.

and Nibbles

above: Ōtaki MP Terisa Ngobi (right) receives direction from workshop leader Duncan Shearer during a visit to view construction of a brick soda kiln for The Kilns at Te Horo.

MES donates chainsaws for cyclone clean-up

BY FRANK NEILL

MES Kāpiti, Ōtaki’s Stihl dealer and service centre, made a significant contribution to the clean-up following Cyclone Gabrielle when it donated 10 chainsaws and various power tools to local organisations who travelled north to help.

MES was “very proud to support our local heroes who work tirelessly to keep our community safe,” MES Directors Sebastian and La Dene Neumayer say.

“Lots of local teams went to clean up and support people following Cyclone Gabrielle,” Mr Neumayer adds.

“We support them in any way we can because they do such good things for the community.

“We are honoured to be able to donate some MS170s [chainsaws] to these amazing people.”

MES donated two chainsaws to the Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade, two to the Te Horo Volunteer Fire Brigade, three to the Kāpiti Search and Rescue team, two to the Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club combined with the Kāpiti Coast District Council, and one to the New Zealand Tree Crops Association.

“A big thanks to Rob Bigwood and Justine Fleming who organised and were on-site for the Search and Rescue mission after Cyclone Gabrielle and to local legend Noel Bigwood, [who retired following his service with Search and Rescue].

Rob Bigwood is the Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Co-ordinator and Justine Fleming is the Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Manager.

“We are incredibly humbled to have been able to listen to many inspiring stories shared by all,” Mr and Mrs Neumayer say.

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Join us at NZ Music Month May 2023's Ōtaki free community event Saturday, 6 May 2023 from 11am to 4pm at Memorial Gardens, Main Street, Ōtaki DJ Just Press Play will kick off the day with music, followed by performances from a lineup of talented local and national bands, including Brasso, Jump, Peanut Slab, and Brand New Secondhand. Free children's entertainment, a bouncy castle, and a community sausage-sizzle will also be available. In case of wet weather, the venue will be at Deer Story Museum, SH1, Manakau. Organized by Music Festivals and Events NZ, with generous support from One Foundation. For more information, contact Chris Craddock at 027 410 2420 or visit https://www.facebook.com/KapitiMusicFestival.

Don't miss out on this celebration of local and national music talent.

below: Sebastian Neumayer of MES Kāpiti (left) hands over chainsaws to Rob Bigwood, Noel Bigwood and Justine Fleming.

Whooping Cough

BY ANN CHAPMAN

Back when I was a child, we didn’t have vaccines for measles, mumps and whooping cough, the three childhood diseases that rampaged through communities. Children then went to parties to get it all over with. Fast forward to my own children’s early years when vaccines were available; I couldn’t wait to have them vaccinated, to keep them safe from these often-trivialised childhood diseases. I think my body remembered the drama of being an asthmatic child and then having the extra burden of whooping cough.

They are not trivial diseases, as shown by the recent deaths from whooping cough in New Zealand.

Whooping could – pertussis – is avoidable. There is no cure. And it is distressing for both the child and their carer. It is highly infectious and spread by coughing and sneezing. It can be life threatening and is particularly serious for babies and young children. They may not be able to breathe properly; they may get so ill they need hospital treatment; and there can be serious complications, such as pneumonia. Whopping cough is caused by a bacteria, and carriers are infectious from six days

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after exposure. Symptoms are like the common cold – until the whooping starts. Key points about whooping cough

1. W hooping cough causes bouts of coughing – each bout may last for 2 or 3 minutes. The cough may go on for 3 months.

2. It can cause serious illness and sometimes death in babies, young children and older adults.

3. It is usually milder in older children and adults, but is still distressing.

4. Whooping cough spreads very easily from person to person.

Whooping cough is currently in New

Zealand and vaccination is the best chance we have of stopping it. Vaccination reduces your chance of getting whooping cough and makes the illness milder in those who get it. It is important to protect those most vulnerable: babies from six weeks old. To protect your baby, get your free immunisation during pregnancy and take your baby for their free immunisations when they’re 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months old.

Vaccines are free to all children under the age of 18, pregnant women, adults over 65 (because immunity fades as you age) and people with chronic conditions.

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Health Shuttle needs volunteers

BY FRANK NEILL

St John is looking for volunteers to help with its Ōtaki Health Shuttle service.

“We are always on the lookout for volunteers,” says St John’s Ōtaki team leader Terry McMinn.

“We’re looking for people who can give one or two days a week,” he says – either as a driver or as a Health Shuttle assistant.

“The service is meeting a huge need, and it is run entirely by volunteers.”

People wanting more information about volunteering for St John can either ring 0800 539 630 or visit the St John website and click on the “volunteer” box on the right hand side of the screen.

The Ōtaki Health Shuttle service has been running for around 10 to 12 years, taking people who are not able to drive for some reason to medical appointments.

It may be to Palmerston North Hospital, the Horowhenua Health Cente in Levin, to their GP, dentist or to any other medical appointment, such as radiology or audiology – in fact anything that is medically related.

As well as travelling north as far as Palmerston North, the Health Shuttles can also travel south, to places such as Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Kenepuru Hospital, Wellington Hospital, Wellington and the Hutt Valley.

The people using the service are asked to make a koha. “People donate whatever they can afford,” Terry says.

With its two vans, both with wheelchair hoists, and a car, the service runs from Monday to Friday each week, except for public holidays.

As well as people going to a medical appointments, the Health Shuttles also transport people who are visiting a whānau

member who is in hospital.

While the service can transport people to any medical appointment, around 90% of the people using it are travelling to either Palmerston North Hospital or the Horowhenua Health Centre.

Currently the Ōtaki Health Shuttle service is manned by 12 drivers and around five assistants.

All of them have completed a first aid course and take a refresher course every two years, and all the drivers complete an advanced driving assessment before starting and every three years after.

Some of them have been in this voluntary role for almost 10 years, and have been doing so for one or two days a week.

Two are in paid employment and the remainder are retired.

“It’s something we all do for the community,” Terry says.

right: the Ōtaki Health Shuttle team leader, Terry McMinn, in front of one of the shuttles.

Speed management is changing in New Zealand

RSA fundraiser for flood relief

BY ANN CHAPMAN

Death Notice

Ōtaki locals came to the party and ensured that over $5,000 was raised by the RSA when they held a fundraising concert for the victims of Cyclone Gabrielle. Local musician all came and freely gave their time to entertain us. The concert started with Andrew and Kirsten London – regulars at the RSA – followed by Black Eyed Susie and her magical playing on the fiddle. Pip Payne and the Tempests, the Caramellos

and Clint Taylor were all cheered onto the stage by Graeme Rikihana. The RSA rocked and rolled to music, food and wine for those who wanted it. There were raffles with donated prizes and the RSA topped-off the fundraising with a donation of $1,000.

Images courtesy of the Ōtaki RSA Facebook page

CRESWELL, Brian John. Of Ōtaki. Passed away peacefully on Friday, 21st April 2023. Dearly loved husband of the late Alison. Much loved father of Brent & Caroline, Shelley & Matt and Mark & Mandy. Adored Poppa of Nathan, Adam, Reece, Hayley, Callum, Kirstie-Anne and Liam. All messages to the Creswell family, C/O 547 Queen St. East, Levin 5510. A service for Brian has been held.

As beautifully touching as it is funny and bold, it tells the story of a family and marriage through the eyes of four grown siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations.

Andrew Bovell’s Things I Know to Be True is brought to life at the Civic Theatre in this moving contemporary production. A dramatic interpretation of staging, reimagined scenery, and talented cast of Kāpiti Coast favourites. This play reaches into your heart from the opening scene.

Director: Lee Norris

Cast: Petra Rasmussen, Peter Carr, Erin Lindley, Harlan Te Wiata, Kent Norris and Ciara Devlin

Funny, poignant and heart breaking, Things I Know To Be True will be staged at the historically iconic Civic Theatre in Ōtaki. 18–27 May | Civic Theatre, Ōtaki | Tickets www.otakiplayers.nz

Mayor Holborow's report

BY JANET HOLBOROW

I recently had a catch-up to update from the Mirek Smíšek Arts Trust on progress of The Kilns project just south of Ōtaki.

These kilns were moved and restored as part of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway project and the Trust was formed in 2019 to oversee the project and develop the area into an arts precinct and destination. The Trust’s plan is based on four pillars: preservation & restoration, education, inspiration and sustainability.

The Kilns will be a place of national significance for ceramic arts, a cultural experience, a place for community to gather for exhibitions and events, and an education facility, with a resident potter providing workshops.

The project already enjoys strong communty support from KCDC, members of parliament, Waka Kotahi and partners, Creative New Zealand, the Blumhardt Foundation, Nikau Foundation, the Czech government and public support through fundraising and membership.

Visitors to the area will be able to enjoy the restored kilns and learn about their history, and also experience the restored native bush developed and nurtured by Mirek Smíšek.

The resident potter will live on-site in the restored railway station, and visitors will be able to watch them working in the restored red cottage, which will also host a small museum and shop. There will also be storyboards telling the history and story of the land, the unique kilns, Smíšek and the other building on-site.

Iwi have been involved already, and there is a pou planned for the site. Māoriland is supporting with film production.

The precinct also has promise as a cycling destination, being located directly on the cycleway.

The benefits of this project are significant.

It will be a unique destination with a fascinating history. The kilns themselves are incredible, and well worth visiting in their own right, but the other elements of the project have great potential for education and discovery. The Trust is aiming for an opening of the first stage in November.

As a Council, we are looking into how we can support this project as much as we can, as it aligns with our destination work and our work to promote and encourage our creative community. It will be a valuable community asset, and will be another 'feather in our cap' as an arts destination –building on the Art Trail, Mahara Gallery, Māoriland hub, Te Raukura performing arts centre, our numerous museums (including the Ōtaki Museum) and our many local galleries and artists. Ōtaki is already firmly on the map as an arts and culture destination, and this project will be another important pillar.

Also, pop along and check out the latest exhibition at the Ōtaki Museum Te Wāhi Ara Tereina | The Railway , which opened 20 April.

Finally, congratulations to the organisers of the recent Ōtaki Market – Kids’ Market. The market has a focus on building

Out and about with Shell

SHELLY WARWICK – ŌTAKI WARD COUNCILLOR

Recently I had the pleasure of having a tour around The Kilns project in Te Horo. Kindly organised by John Draper of The Kilns Trust, Ōtaki Community Board members and KCDC staff were escorted onto the work site by NZTA and contractor representatives. Thanks to the hard work of The Kilns trustees – a group of volunteers who thankfully have helped save this piece of history – this will become an amazing tourist attraction in our area and easily accessed by locals. Included in this project is the renovation of the relocated Te Horo train station, which will become an artist’s residence in the future, which hopes to attract artists from far and wide to spend time here and share their talent and expertise. The original kilns will not be in use, but a new kiln is being built and will be functioning on site. The Kilns will eventually be accessible from the PP2Ō Cycleway, Walkway, Bridleway (CWB) track and by car from Winiata Link Road, which is not yet formed. You can find out more about The Kilns Trust, how you can support them,

and their exciting plans at https://www. thekilnsattehoro.co.nz/

Now that the PP2Ō has opened, the next stage for Waka Kotahi NZTA to go through is the preparation of old State Highway 1 for revocation; revocation is the process of a state-owned highway being redesignated to a local road and handed back to a local authority, in this case Kapiti Coast District Council (KCDC). Part of the revocation process is called the PP2Ō Corridor Improvements. Preliminary consultation for this was done as far back as 2019, and preliminary design done around May 2021. A summary of this work can be found on https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/projects/ mackays-to-peka-peka-revocation/PP2Ōand-M2PP-revocation-engagementsummary.pdf . The section of road included in this work is between Makahuri–Marycrest and Taylors Road. There are three categories of work for the PP2Ō Corridor Improvements and each are funded differently. Category 1 is curb-to-curb and is 100% funded by Waka Kotahi, this will also include some

confidence, being aware of the environment and creating and selling sustainable and healthy products. Some talented young musicians performed, and some used it as an opportunity to fundraise for sports and

other activities. It was great to see so much creativity and entrepreneurship on display. They will be held in each school holidays, so encourage any young people who are interested to get creating!

footpaths within the Railway shopping precinct. Category 2 is 51% NZTA funded and 49% KCDC (rates) funded and so needs to be part of an annual or long-term plan to trigger funding; and category 3 is 100% KCDC funded. So only the category 1 work will not come out of ratepayer funds. This work will happen over about two years, and at the same time the Ōtaki Community Board and KCDC’s strategy team will be consulting with the community on 'visioning' work for our little town: what do we see as important for our future to 2060? We may be able to tie in some of this visioning to the category 2 funding and get some financial help from Waka Kotahi to achieve some of our goals.

Keep your eyes on local newspapers, the KCDC website and Facebook posts for the upcoming community engagegment and planning around the old SH1 corridor improvements as well as the community engagement on the Future Vision for Ōtaki. You can sign up to KCDC’s e-newsletter on https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/whats-on/

Ōtaki Community Board: Law and Order Hui

BY JACKIE ELLIOTT

Last month, Ōtaki Community Board members and Ward Councillor Shelly Warwick attended a Law and Order hui organised by National party candidate Tim Costley in Levin. The large turn-out from Ōtaki and further south, in the 70-strong audience, was indicative of the amount of concerns we share with our community about the lack of local police-power to respond to continued vehicle thefts, ramraids and other senseless crime in Ōtaki. The guest speaker, National spokesperson for crime, justice, corrections and border security, MP Mark Mitchell, answered specific questions from the board.

We asked: How is the National Party going to deal differently with the 501 deportees? The answer was, any who needed to be

deported back to Australia would be.

What can we do about Kainga Ora housing non-Ōtaki clients in Ōtaki instead of housing people from Ōtaki? The answer was that we had to get Kianga Ora in a room and tell them to stop these out-of-town placements. Yes, it has worked in other towns, and, yes this is work the Community Board can continue.

Why are there no police to respond to property crime in Ōtaki while there can be four patrol cars at a time on the expressway manning speed cameras? The answer was, it is a fact the police do have a quota system and are required to raise revenue to fund police activity. This would be unlikely to change.

Importantly for Ōtaki, we asked what National would do to fill the two longstanding vacancies for community police in Ōtaki resulting in our town being unstaffed throughout the night?

Tim and Mark (an ex police dog-handler, who initially served in Levin) acknowledged it was significant to see us all there representing the Ōtaki Community. They had visited the Ōtaki Police Station and met with new Area Superintendent Scott Fraser and Sergeant Phil Grimshaw, who said that one of the vacancies has just been filled three weeks earlier and that police were now available in Ōtaki covering every 24 hours with three 8-hour shifts.

We look forward to confirmation of that and welcome our newest Community

everything-kapiti/ to be kept up to date, visit our information desk in the library, or come along to our Ōtaki Community Board (ŌCB) meetings which are open to the public. The next two ŌCB meetings are on Tuesday 9 May and Tuesday 20 June, in the Gertrude Atmore Supper Room, Memorial Hall, 7pm. I would like to thank the Ōtaki Community Board members Cam, Jackie, Simon and Chris who are doing a great job on behalf of our town. They are committed and passionate; generous with their time; and a great support to me as your Ward Councillor. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes time and effort going on, but the thing with Council is that it is a slow-moving beast and so the fruits of our work are not always seen in a timely manner. Also, Kris Pervan, KCDC General Manager of Strategy, who is the GM assigned to our OCB – what a fantastic, hard-working and passionate person she is and Ōtaki is very lucky to have her on our team. Thanks for your mahi and it has been a great start to the triennium.

Ngā mihi, Shelly

Policeperson to own wonderful town. We trust the Emergency Earthquake drill at the West Emergency Hub, Memorial Hall, Saturday 22nd April from 11am – 1.30pm was well attended and hope to have seen you there for this important mahi to help us all prepare for an emergency.

MP for Ōtaki Terisa Ngobi (left), and Ōtaki Market - Kids' Market participants with Mayor Holborow (right) last month.

Zero Waste Ōtaki update

BY JO LYNCH

ZWŌ Treasurer Graham Evans, says that the organisation is moving from a set-up phase to one of growth and independence. In the set-up phase the organisation needed to get grants and use all their income from sales to pay for things like tools and containers. Now, with good supplies and 30–40 visitors each week, the income has more than doubled on last years.

“Otaki people have realised what a fantastic resource we are,” says Graham. “So now we are in a position to give back to the community.”

The committee has agreed that, should there be a local emergency like flooding, the gates will be thrown open and people will be able to get everything at no cost. As there has not been a local event, ZWŌ recently donated $1000 each to Hawkes Bay and Gisborne relief funds.

“But we definitely need more help,” says Graham. “The volumes of wood coming in are increasing and need to be dealt with, so we are actively looking for more volunteers.” And the volunteers not only de-nail, sort and stack all the incoming material, they also help visitors find what they want – often going the extra mile.

For example, recently Claire Gurunathan came looking for windows for a glass-house she was building. Barbara Hoverd showed her what was there, but nothing was suitable. She took Claire’s number. “Then later that morning, just before the site was closing for the day, we got a text from her,” says Claire.

“She said someone had just dropped off some aluminium widows, so we rushed around with five minutes to spare. And we found a door too. It was exactly what we

below:

greenhouse builders Arthur Leong and his son Wei Jian

needed. And it is much stronger, and of course much cheaper, than the flimsy ones you can buy. I just think it is wonderful that this is part of Ōtaki. And the people were so helpful and knowledgeable about what wood you can and can’t use. It was just a positive experience.”

As well as the bays and stacks of wood for outside use, the containers are always worth checking out: there’s one for interior wood; and we're developing one for doors and another for furniture. It would be interesting to see what the clever people on The Repair Shop would do with three ladder-back chairs that are there. The wood is sound and

Energise Ōtaki update: Check, connect, sort, set

BY EMILY MCDOWELL

We’re powered by a vision of Ōtaki having enough good energy for everyone. That includes being warm enough at home to stay well, while using as little electricity (so, money!) as possible.

This year, our project ‘Warm Up Ōtaki’ will help connect homeowners and tenants to ways to improve home heating and insulation, while getting rid of drafts and mould.

Matt Brenin is our lead heater-upper: “Last year I was visiting homes to help people get insulation and sometimes there’d be other gaps…in walls, or maybe there’d be no curtains. So, a lot of heat would escape even with insulation. There is support out there for people needing home heating help. We’re going to help people get it.”

This is a new approach and we’re looking forward to developing it with our partners. We know that it starts with a visit. Matt (who’s also a dad, a builder and a… composting-toilets expert!) visits people for a ‘home check’. Matt will share tips for easy heating tweaks, and work out what can happen next.

Maybe it’s connecting a family with Ōtaki Curtain Bank for free curtains. Or to a team providing low-cost (government-subsidised) insulation and heat pumps. Or to another service for financial or health support. Maybe it’s introducing the household to a builder (likely Matt himself) for free basic repairs. With many options, it can be hard for anyone to find the right routes. Matt and the Warm Up Ōtaki team (including our partners, and the Energise crew in our Main Street office) will help navigate - making the connections, then following them up to get the issues sorted.

Customers love hospice shop makeover

BY FRANK NEILL

potentially very beautiful. The wicker seats need replacing, but we hear there is a course in Te Horo where you can learn how to do that. Tucked away in the container there is also a very lovely old panel from the front of a piano, which one of the committee members has already lovingly restored and oiled. It would make a beautiful decorative panel over a mantel piece. Check out the ZWŌ Facebook page for new items coming in.

Or visit www.zerowaste.nz.

ZWŌ is every Wednesday, 9.30 – 10.30am, and the last Sunday morning of the month.

And then, we’ll be set: more warm homes and healthy humans. We’ll be sharing more details about Warm Up Ōtaki soon. In the meantime, anyone with a Community Services Card (or SuperGold Card) who needs curtains can get them via our project Ōtaki Curtain Bank. Applications are available on our website, at our office (7 Main Street, open Tuesdays to Thursdays, 10am - 2pm) and at Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Stay warm, Ōtaki.

right:Warm Up Ōtaki lead Matt Brenin checking his home insulation

The Arohanui Hospice Shop is receiving glowing reports following its recent makeover.

“Customers are loving the new look,” the shop’s manager Jennie Harris says. Some of the comments are that [the shop] is much more welcoming, and that it’s very open and spacious.

“A huge thanks to the team [that completed the shop’s upgrade] for all their work.”

The Ōtaki MenzShed co-ordinated the building and painting, and provided many hours of labour to the shop’s makeover. Local businesses also supported the shop upgrade: Erin and Connor from Hammer Hardware Ōtaki; Paul and his team at The NZ Paint Co, Ōtaki; Dowco; and Mike at Ōtaki Secure Storage.

The shop’s volunteers and staff also assisted in the makeover. The shop’s landlord “has been really supportive, and has offered to paint the outside of the shop.

“Everyone pulled their weight,” Jennie says. “Thanks to the whole team the shop is looking great.

“And thanks to the loyal customers who have come back,” she adds.

The Arohanui Hospice Shop would like to pass on its “huge thanks to our local community for support with donations of good quality items for sale” and the local and wider community for its support as customers.

“We always appreciate clean, good quality donations,” Jennie says. “We are short on books at the moment.”

Funds from the shop operation help support Arohanui Hospice, which provides specialist palliative care. The care is tailored to each patient’s individual needs. This care is holistic –considering physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual needs – in order to optimise quality of life.

Support is also provided for the patient’s whānau and carers throughout the illness and after the death of their loved one.

Claire Gurunathan with

above: Arohanui Hospice Shop Manager Jennie Harris in the newly refurbished shop. The Arohanui Hospice is located at 1 Heretaunga Street, Palmerston North.

The Rongoā Space

BY JOANNE HAKARAIA

Rongoā of the Month NGAIO

Myoporum laetum

Rona went to fetch water from the spring. It was dark when she went, however there was bright moonlight from the fullness of the moon. It was Rākau-nui and Rona could see quite clearly as she walked along the path. She filled her hue and made her way back to her whare. As she walked along the path the light began to fade. The moon had gone behind a heavy cloud. She walked slowly and carefully, pleading with the moon to come out from behind the clouds. Rona’s annoyance with the moon was brewing when suddenly she tripped on a rock and fell to the ground, spilling the hue of wai. Rona cursed the moon for making her fall. “Look what you’ve done!” she screamed. The moon was annoyed with Rona for cursing him so he drew her up to him. Rona looked around for something to hold onto and saw a Ngaio tree. She quickly reached out to a branch and held on, but the moon was so strong that it drew both her and the Ngaio tree up toward him. The Ngaio was pulled from the earth, roots and all, and remained with Rona on the moon.

Ngaio (Myoporum laetum) is a fastgrowing tree up to 10 metres. Its delicate flowers are white spotted with purple and occur from mid-spring to mid-summer. The berries are purple and ripen through summer

and autumn. The leaves are waxy and have pale, dot-like oil glands, which are visible when held up to the light. The timber is white.

Ngaio is found in coastal and lowland forest throughout Aotearoa, but is uncommon in the deep south. I remember when I first learned about Ngaio I was keen to connect with it. However, I was living in Tamaki at the time and it was quite uncommon. I searched for it in Te Tai Tokerau but never came across it. It took a further three years to finally come face-to-face with it: I came home to Ōtaki and it was everywhere!

The spots on the leaves are caused by pellucid glands, which contain ngaione. Ngaione has antibacterial properties, but is very toxic to stock.

Traditionally, the young shoots were rubbed onto the skin to repel mosquitos and sandflies.

Leaves were bruised and heated to release the oil for infected wounds; applied, the leaves were very effective in drawing out the paru.

Please note, it is not recommended to try this as the toxin, ngaione, can still seep into the system through the skin and may cause harm.

The pakiwaitara tells us that there is a strong connection between Ngaio and the moon. When the leaves are held up in the

sunlight, the spots on the leaves look like a galaxy of stars and moons. The waxy leaves remind us of the waxing of the moon. When the moon is full, Rona can be seen holding her hue and branches of the Ngaio.

Public meeting on Ōtaki reservoir planned

BY FRANK NEILL

Kāpiti Coast District Council is revisiting the location of the proposed Ōtaki reservoir and will hold a public meeting in May before construction begins.

The council decided at its 27 April meeting to ask its officers to “revisit how we consult, engage and communicate with our communities so that it reflects our values (eg empathy) and we take them with us on the journey of decision making and planning of significant projects.”

The council’s decision came in the wake of local residents voicing their concerns that the council was planning to build the water reservoir close to housing at the eastern end of Speranza Avenue.

Residents voiced their concerns at a meeting about the new reservoir held at Waitohi School on 4 April.

“Our concern is that this project has been foisted on us with no knowledge or consultation at all,” local resident Dave Moore told the meeting.

“It is really not good enough,” he said. “When you have a deal done like this behind closed doors it is unacceptable.”

The new reservoir was very close to people’s homes, Mr Moore noted.

“In our opinion there is no need to have it jammed up against the neighbours.”

Kāpiti Coast Deputy Mayor Lawrence Kirby began the meeting by stating that in response to community requests what had started as an information session had been turned into a meeting.

Responding to comments on lack of consultation, Mr Lawrence said: “I’m sorry we [the council] have dropped the ball up to this point”.

However, “we are very keen to hear what is coming out of this community.”

The need for a reservoir in Ōtaki had been talked about for 30 years, he said.

The council had received a $29.3 government contribution to fund water infrastructure in Ōtaki. Following that, the council decided to begin the construction of a reservoir this year. Before that, work on the reservoir had been scheduled to happen in about two years’ time.

“Because of the money given to us, it has speed the process up,” Mr Lawrence said. Following community feedback, the council was looking to move the reservoir further away from the houses, the council’s general manager of infrastructure services, Sean Mallon, told the 4 April meeting.

The council had bought a large block of land – a section of 8,500 square metres – and theoriginal plan was to place the reservoir fairly close to houses.

“We will be pushing as hard as we can to move it back [from the houses] as far as we can,” Mr Mallon said.

“We can move it. 100% we can move it, although there will be some engineering issues involved,” he said.

Cr Rob Kofoed and Deputy Mayor Kirby submitted a “matter of an urgent nature” for the council to consider at its 27 April meeting stating, “Regarding the Ōtaki Reservoir project, council:

1. Notes that the public consultation with the residents most closely affected was not appropriate for the project's effects.

2. Notes that there has been increased engagement with the community during March and April and that there will be further engagement including another public meeting in May 2023 before any construction starts.

3. Notes that council officers are working on options for moving the reservoir from its originally proposed location further back on the section to enable increased height of the bunding, increased suitable plantings and less visual intrusion for the adjacent

properties.

4. Notes that council officers may need to look at alternative sites should the proposed site not work.

5. Notes that an update regarding the project will be given to elected members before the public meeting.”

Their Motions were adopted by the council.

Mayor Janet Holborow says she acknowledges that the communication with those directly affected could have been better.

"As a council we are investigating ways we can improve our communication and engagement with the community as we deal with the pressures of growth and change, and the requirements for infrastructure that come along with that,” the Mayor says.

“Council has been investigating a new reservoir for Ōtaki for 20 years and this has been signalled in the Council’s long-term plans, says Peter Bollmann, the council’s Project Manager, Ōtaki Growth Infrastructure.

“The reservoir will improve the resilience and fire-fighting capability of the water supply as well as support existing and future homes in Ōtaki.

“Currently, Ōtaki has limited water storage and is reliant on bores and pumps to supply most of the community.

“If a significant problem occurred with a pump or the treatment station most of Ōtaki would immediately lose water.

“The new reservoir will provide at least 24 hours of water storage and will be built to withstand a one-in-2500-year earthquake, making it the strongest structure in the area.

“The site on Te Manuao Road was selected due to its elevation and proximity to the existing water supply network. The site is also out of hazards zones such as flood plains and earthquake fault lines.

“GWRC and KCDC have issued consent for the earthworks for the reservoir and the construction of the reservoir is a permitted activity under the operative Kāpiti Coast District Plan.”

An artist’s impression of the Ōtaki reservoir as originally sited. The Council is now looking to move it further away from housing.

Flower garden

Watson’s Garden Ltd

With Mothers Day coming up, we are well stocked with lots of goodies for your special loved one: giftware; fragrance; soap; candles; potted flowers; spring bulbs; pots; water features; garden art; shrubs and trees. Pop in and see the team to help you find the perfect gift! And remember to check us out on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates.

Gardening with

Garden tasks for May

Autumn is the best time to plant new trees and shrubs – they can become established over the cooler, wetter months. Add some long-term fertiliser at planting time and tie to a support stake.

It’s also a good time to plant new season's daphne, camellias and rhododendrons for welcome colour in your winter and early spring garden.

May is moving month – many smaller shrubs, such as azaleas and gardenias, can be transplanted this month. Collect autumn leaves for composting.

It’s your last chance to plant spring bulbs, but there’s still time to get your lily bulbs in. They are easy to grow and can be planted any time between May and September. Work bulb food into planting area and cover bulbs with 10cm of soil.

Trim back autumn flowering perennials and mulch trees, shrubs and perennials with compost.

Lift dahlia tubers and gladioli corms and store in a dry place ready for planting again in spring.

Sow seeds of alyssum, sweet pea, lobelia, calendula, cineraria, nemesia, statice, Virginian stock, cornflower, lupin and forget-me-not.

Plant your first strawberries – well established plants will fruit earlier and for longer this spring and summer.

Fruit-tree pruning can start as soon as leaves have dropped. Feed citrus trees with citrus fertiliser to maintain foliage colour and good health.

Mulch your vegetable and fruit trees with compost. If your veggie patch won’t be used over winter, think about sowing blue lupin or mustard seed as a winter crop. This is an easy, natural way to add nutrients and improve soil structure for spring.

Shallot and garlic bulbs are available in garden centres now – start your planting.

As leeks grow, pile up soil around the stems to provide some support and keep stems white.

Thin-out carrots and other autumn sown crops. Cut back asparagus to within 15cm of ground level after stems turn yellow.

Sow seeds of beetroot, carrots, onions, spinach, swedes, turnips, radish, broad beans and broccoli directly into your garden bed.

Plant out seedlings of broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, cabbage, spring onions and silver beet.

Gift vouchers, giftware, tools, pots, garden and pest products available all year round

Monday – Saturday, 9am – 5pm | closed Sundays and public holidays.

17 Bell Street Ōtaki

(06)

364 8758

www.watsonsgarden.co.nz

TE HORO GARDEN CENTRE

for the special mother in your life

DAPHNES

Old fashioned: Leucanthe (pink) Alba (white) New Perfume Princess (pink & white)

Plant out seedlings of calendula, wallflower, snapdragon, nemesia, pansies, primula, stock, polyanthus, cineraria and viola.

Fruit and vegetable garden

Harvest the last of your feijoas, guavas, kiwifruit and tamarillo as they ripen.

Lawns

Feed lawns to boost growth and suppress weeds. Bare areas can be raked over and reseeded.

Second thoughts

Bring frost tender patio plants into a sheltered position and reduce watering of your house plants.

Focus on growing Brussels sprouts

You need patience to grow this traditional winter veggie: Brussels sprouts, Brassica oleracea , need four to five months, and the benefit of chilly weather, to achieve flavour and succulence.

Part of the family that includes broccoli, kale, cauliflower and kohlrabi, they begin life as a typical bushy brassica with greyish-green leaves, but grow into tall, single-stemmed plants. The distinctive sprouts develop along the central stem and resemble tightly furled, miniature cabbages, which contain multiple nutrients including high amounts of vitamin C and soluble fibre.

cause of soft, overblown sprouts, however, is loose or low fertility soil, so firm soil thoroughly around seedlings. It’s also a good idea to tie plants to a stake, as they grow to about a metre tall, depending on the variety. You can also earth up the soil around the stems of the sprouts to help support plants as they gain height.

LUCULIA Gratissima

Highly fragrant clusters of pink flowers in May.

2 x 1.5m

STANDARD CAMELLIAS Absolutely stunning!!

7 varieties to choose from in shades of pink & white

for INDOOR & OUTDOOR PLANTS

cnr Old SH1 & Te Horo Beach Rd

TE HORO

Ph (06) 364 2142

Shopping made easier with access from old State Highway!

Sow seeds in seed beds during October and November at a depth of three times their size, and transplant when 10-15cm high. Plant out seedlings 60cm x 60cm apart in soil that hasn’t grown brassicas for at least three years. Ideally soil should have been boosted with well-rotted compost and limed in the past 12 months – brassicas don’t like acidic soil.

Pick a sunny spot for your sprouts, however, they will grow in part shade. They dislike high temperatures – in fact, the frostier it is the better. Frosts improve the flavour, but if too heavy they may damage the sprouts.

Maintain a steady supply of nutrients by mulching with compost or well-rotted animal manure, or feed with a liquid fertiliser at fortnightly intervals. Brussels sprouts will tolerate heavier soils, but the use of excessive nitrogen may produce loose sprouts and reduce frost hardiness. The main

Regular summer watering is required for strong growth, but also be on the lookout for major pests – caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly, and aphids. Covering sprouts with fine netting can provide some protection from butterflies. Club root is the major disease affecting brassicas, and once in the soil can remain for several years. To deter club root, you could try chopping up rhubarb leaves and placing the pieces in the bottom of the hole when planting sprout seedlings.

Harvest your sprouts about three months after planting, usually in late autumn or winter. Pick from the base up when they about 2.5 cm in diameter and still hard. When all sprouts are picked leave the plant for another week or so then pick the top leaves, as you would cabbage.

Good varieties to try are ‘Long Island Improved’, a strong, semi-dwarf heritage variety, ideal for a small garden; ‘Tighthead’, a vigorous, adaptable variety with heaps of tight sprouts when well-grown; and ‘Red Ribs’, a novelty red/purple heirloom variety. The sprouts intensify in colour in colder weather and have a milder, nuttier flavour than the standard green types.

the Ō taki Mail

Classic camellias

Camellias bring fresh colour and joy to the garden during a down time, when all around shrubs, perennials and annuals are looking tired out and shabby.

Various myths abound about the growing of camellia, such as the need for semi-shade, however, commercial growers say many are misleading. While camellias will grow happily in semi-shade, this is not essential (exceptions are the varieties with larger, light-coloured blooms which should be shielded from early winter morning sun if susceptible to frost damage).

Another lesser-known fact about camellias is their drought tolerance (which is great if plants are kept mulched with organic material such as shredded garden trimmings and pruning waste). Bark or well-made and well-rotted compost is another option. Lawn clippings are okay if only a thin layer is used.

Garden camellias don’t need pruning (camellia enthusiasts often prune “so a bird can fly through the branches” to ensure perfect flowers for competitions). If you want, they can be trimmed to control size, and shaped. They can also be grown as standards, espaliered and, if necessary, will even stand being cut back very hard.

In short, camellias are tough plants that don’t need cosseting. However, for top performance, mulch to keep the soil near the surface (where their feeder roots are) cool and moist.

There are camellias to suit every gardener’s taste – from dainty, ever-fresh blooms to big, blowsy drama queens, from bold, dense foliage to fine-leafed or willowy growth.

Possibly you’ve been turned off camellias in the past

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

because of the big blooms and dense shrubs, but today there is a wide variety to choose from.

If you love the extravagance of some of the biggest and brightest of camellia blooms there are many to pick from, but recent developments have been among the smallerflowered stars.

I love the species C. transkoensis for their small, white, single flowers (opening from reddish buds) and fine foliage (it is great in a container), and C. minutiflora which has miniature, white, pink-flushed flowers in early spring and low, arching growth. I’ve also planted ‘Silver Column’ in a spot protected from coastal winds. The upright growth suits the space, and the very dark foliage sets off its dainty, pure white blooms. These keep coming from autumn through to late winter or even longer.

C. microphylla is another species that is becoming deservedly popular. It has comparatively small foliage (making it excellent for hedging), and produces masses of tiny, star-shaped, single, pure white flowers with yellow stamens.

‘Sweet Emily Jane’ is another modern, small-flowered variety with a long flowering period (for six months from autumn through to spring), although slower growing. It has soft pink, anemone-shaped, scented blooms.

Top picks for fragrant camellias include the low-growing ‘Quintessence’ (small, creamy-white flowers), ‘Scentuous’ which is a compact plant with white, pink-flushed flowers, and ‘High Fragrance,’ a pink-flowered beauty considered to have the best fragrance (and stands up to picking better than most).

Seasonal spirit-lifters

If our late autumn weather is wearing you down, the sight of flowers on winter-bare branches is sure to lift your spirits.

The flowers of wintersweet ( Chimonanthus ) and witch hazel (Hamamelis) have a gorgeous fragrance and subtle colouring which fits with any décor. But my favourite is the flowering quince (Chaenomeles ) in lively lipstick-red. The blooms, like over-sized apple blossom, on bare, twisted branches are a welcoming sight, both in the garden and in a vase.

You can plant flowering quince as a low hedge or train its pliable branches against a wall or fence, just beware of the plant’s sharp spines. A member of the rose family, hence the thorns, they are happy in sun or part shade. Almost neglect-proof, they can cope with hard frost, drought and clay soil.

Flower buds are produced on previous summer growth, so mid-spring, after flowering, is the best time to prune, cutting out dead or damaged branches. You can rejuvenate an old plant by removing the oldest, fattest branches to ground level, although hard hacking is best avoided unless you want to create a dense thicket.

Some varieties produce green and yellow japonica apples that ripen in the autumn. These have a lovely perfume and can be used to make jelly.

If you have a warm, sunny, sheltered spot, away from any threat of frost, you’ll be able to grow Luculia gratissima ‘Early Dawn.’ This showy shrub flowers in early winter with an absolute cloud of soft pink flowers and a sweet, pervasive fragrance.

The waxy flowers are held in big, round bunches, dark rose in bud, and a baby pink when open. Plant it in pride of place, not too far away from a window, so its wonderful, clove-like perfume can waft indoors.

The shrub grows quickly to two or three metres and its best to prune back by about a half every spring, once the risk of frost had passed. This keeps growth lush and bushy and maximises flowering. Unpruned shrubs grow tall and leggy with flowers at the top.

Another winter favourite of mine is Daphne odora ‘Leucanthe Alba’ – delectable winter fragrance on a modest-sized, neat and tidy bush with attractive, green foliage. A sprig in a small vase banishes the winter blues feeling, emitting a perfume that belies its size and beats anything you can buy in a bottle.

Daphne like cool, lime-free soil, rich in organic matter, but hate wet feet, so good drainage is paramount. Avoid placing your daphne in direct all-day sun because this will turn the leaves yellow. Nutrient imbalances caused by high pH or poor drainage can also result in sickly, yellow leaves. If yellow leaves persist in well-drained soil, iron deficiency may be the problem. This can be remedied with a dose of iron chelates.

Kept compact with a light prune after flowering, this is an attractive year-round shrub that flowers its socks off just when you need it the most.

Ōtaki – Education Town

Backyard Kids: High-quality fun learning

BY FRANK NEILL

Providing high-quality, fun learning for children whose parents are working is a major focus for Ōtaki’s newest pre-school, Backyard Kids Childcare.

Located at 73 Riverbank Road, this childcare centre opened about two months ago.

“I thought what Ōtaki was missing was a childcare centre that catered for families who work,” Backyard Kids owner and one of its teachers Alice Pritchard says.

“Ōtaki is changing and growing. More people are moving into this area who are needing daycare for longer hours,” she says.

That is exactly what Backyard Kids does, as it opens at 7:30am and continues until 5:30pm.

Providing quality education, where the tamariki have opportunities for creative, fun and imaginative learning that encourages the children to grow and learn at their own pace, is a major focus.

To achieve that Ms Pritchard has recruited an outstanding team of teachers, and all the eight teachers are qualified and registered. Most of them also have a Bachelor of Education degree.

“It has been quite a process finding these quality teachers,” Ms Pritchard says.

“That’s one of the great things, we’ve got amazing teachers and they are doing an amazing job.

“Each child has one teacher and that teacher caters for each child’s individual needs.

“The teachers have a big role in the child’s life,” she says. Backyard Kids is focused on creating curious minds through explorative play, with an emphasis on both learning and building relationships.

The teachers play a big role in this, with their strong focus on building the relationships with the child and their whānau.

Backyard Kids was architecturally designed, providing high quality and spacious indoor and outdoor areas that enhance learning.

One aim of the design was to develop a home-like environment for the children.

The indoor and outdoor facilities provide spaces for three groups of children – under two, two to three and a half, and three and a half to six.

Another focus for Backyard Kids is providing high-quality nutritious food.

One of the 11 staff members is a chef, who is also a nutritionist.

The chef provides the children with morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.

Backyard Kids has a roll of 47 children, aged from three months to six years, although most of the children go to school when they are five.

It has the capacity to cater for 60, “so now we are ready to take on more children,” Ms Pritchard says.

The childcare centre has been very, very popular, and demand has been high.

“We probably get four or five enquiries a week.”

Ms Pritchard decided to develop a childcare centre as a result of her learnings while she was a teacher, having taught in Wainuiomata, London and at Plimmerton School before she had her two children.

“I was a primary-school teacher and I thought there was a gap in what children were given before five,” she says. Children need the space and environment and high-quality teachers so they can develop the skills needed for their ongoing learning and development.

“I wanted this to be a home-away-from-home where the children are cared for and loved.

“I wanted to create a nice environment where parents are happy to drop their children off and the children are happy to be here.”

And that is exactly what Backyard Kids is giving the children.

“The children are at the centre of everything we do,” Ms Pritchard says.

bottom right: Backyard Kids owner Alice Pritchard with her son, Charlie Buchanan, during play time

Ōtaki College News

May 2023

From Principal Andy Fraser Term One has been an enjoyable time back at College. For the first time in three years we have been able to have our students not only involved in full-time study on site but also participating in our athletics and swimming sports days without having any COVID interruptions.

Over 2023, I hope to take the opportunity to share with you information about significant places and spaces in the College. In this edition I would like to commence with an acknowledgement to the Rikihana whānau, as the College is now situated on what was their whānau land.

The Land We Stand On

Rikihana was the son of Kukura and Te Ahimate of Ngāti Koroki and Ngāti Raukawa tribes. He came to Ōtaki first as a child in one of the early Ngāti Raukawa hekenga, but at some date after 1842 returned to Waikato.

Wiremu Te Manewha, a fighting chief and leader of Ngāti Koroki, travelled to Maungatautari to bring Rikihana te Tarure back to Ōtaki to marry his only daughter, Enereta Te Whakarato.

Rikihana and Enereta had about 13 children; some of them died while still in early childhood and, of those who lived to adulthood, five married and had families. Fa mily names of their children include Johnson, Carkeek and Bell.

He’s reputed to be one of the first Māori to join the Salvation Army. The “S” of the Army can be seen on his jacket in this photo.

www.otakicollege.school.nz

Spirit of Adventure, by Year 13 ŌC student Anika Edginton

My name is Anika Edginton and at the 2022 Ōtaki College senior prizegiving I was lucky enough to be awarded the XŌtaki Alumni Trust Stuart and Mary Pritchard Spirit of Adventure Scholarship, which enabled me to partake in a 10-day voyage alongside 40 other young people from across New Zealand. The voyage was set in the beautiful Hauraki Gulf and, over those ten days, I learned tons of new skills, made friends from across the country and pushed myself to try new things.

I started my voyage at the Princes Wharf in Auckland and, despite being nervous, I was so excited to meet everyone. We began boarding at 2pm and stocked up the boat with what felt like enough food for an entire year. That night we did some ice-breaker activities while sailing out to Motu Ihe. That evening, all of the trainees collaborated to determine what we wanted to get out of the trip and which activities we could do to aid this.

Every day we were assigned to different cleaning / prep stations, and after breakfast we would do our jobs for the day. We set the sails every day. At the start, it was very overwhelming as there was much to learn. After all the jobs were finished we would begin our mission. On day 3 we sailed to Mansion House Bay on Kawau Island, which is such a strange juxtaposition between the grandeur of the mansion and the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. Later on, we sailed over to Goat Island, on our way there a crew member and I spotted a pod of dolphins swimming alongside the boat. One of the things we had listed on day 1 was swimming with dolphins and, despite being so scared, we jumped overboard. Unfortunately, they disappeared, but we had a plan. We readied the rafts and, after anchoring the ship, all of the crew and trainees began paddling towards Goat Island. On the way there the dolphins came back and everyone jumped into the water. It was absolutely magical: for an hour or so we swam with the dolphins, hearing the high-pitched ringing of them talking and watching them curiously dive through and around us. They were so close that you could touch them. This was definitely a highlight of my trip: to interact with the natural world from a place of admiration and respect, and see the pureness of life existing. However, it made me feel for them and their environment, which we continue to pollute.

destination. Trainee Day proved to be more difficult than expected, we arrived at our destination late so there wasn't any time to swim, even though it was one of the hottest days yet. It really showed us how difficult it is to run a ship and organise everyone onboard.

And, just like that, it was day 10. We woke to a great big moon setting over the beautiful Hauraki Gulf. We had bags to pack, cleaning to do, and showers to have. , For anyone who is thinking about going on

the Spirit of Adventure, I couldn't recommend it more. I feel truly privileged to have had this experience. If you are looking to strengthen your leadership, communication and collaboration skills, and make friendships to last a lifetime, this is for you. It wasn't without its lows, but the highs far outweighed the lows. My thanks to the XAlumni Trust and particularly to Stuart and Mary Pritchard for making this fantastic experience possible.

The Rikihana whānau originally owned the land Ōtaki College is on today. On the College site they had their house and cows and they grew vegetables and flowers for the Wellington market. However, an inability to pay the high Council rates bills meant the whānau eventually lost their title to their land.

Article written by Queenie RikihanaHyland and Mishy Vieira.

Summer Tournament Success

Congratulations to Caleb Smith and Stella Park who attended Waka Ama National Championships in Rotorua over Summer Tournament Week. Both students competed in the W1 Category. Caleb won gold and Stella silver in the J19, W1 Bowl Finals.

Giorgio Bevan, Louis Bevan, Fin Butler, Witana Cameron, William Fogden, Jericho Housiaux-Roderique and Cam Butler (Coach) attended the National Secondary Schools Canoe Polo Championships where they won a bronze medal in the Senior Boys Division - outstanding.

It was awesome to get students away to summer tournament week this year after its cancellation in 2022.

Andy Fraser, Principal

On day 5 we finally had some proper wind, so we did lots of sailing. Throughout the entirety of the trip, we were learning how to hoist, set and stow all of the different sails so that on day 9 – Trainee Day – we could sail the ship on our own.

Trainee day!! Halfway through day 8 is the official handover, where the amazing crew helped us elect a captain and then left us to sort the rest out. Katie was Captain, I was First Mate, Melissa was Second Mate, Angi was the Engineer, James and Liam were the Navigators, and Bede and Georgie Rose were the Cooks. We had a great team, and our first job was to make a plan for the following day.

Our approach was very diplomatic in that we opened up the floor to everyone to share their opinions, which was more of a challenge than we had initially expected. I think that we all learned a lot in trying to meet in the middle of what we could actually achieve in our time frame. Day 9, we were in full swing of Trainee Day, and the morning started off smoothly with everyone working together setting sails and doing jobs. Our navigators had set the course and Katie had us moving toward our handover

Rikihana Te Tarure Wairoa

above & below: images by Anika Edginton from her XŌtaki Alumni Trust Stuart and Mary Pritchard Spirit of Adventure Scholarship voyage earlier this year

Rāhui tops Rugby table

BY FRANK NEILL

Rāhui has kicked off the 2023 Rugby season with three big victories.

The Ōtaki-based team was the only team in the Horowhenua Kāpiti premier competition to remain undefeated following the first three rounds.

Rāhui convincingly beat Waikanae 41-14 after leading 21-7 at half time on 15 April.

Playing at Ōtaki Domain, the home team was dominant in most phases of the game, with its scrum particularly impressive.

Jonathan Fuimaono was outstanding, scoring two tries and being awarded three points as the most valuable player. Jake Quin, who also scored a try was awarded two points and two players, Leon Ellison and Alizay Roach scored one point.

Three other players dotted down for Rāhui – Joel Winterburn, Haapi Nikora and Mason Couchman. Alizay Roach kicked four conversions and a penalty.

Two players chalked up milestones in the match, with both Ngarongo Selby-Rickit and Haapi Nikora playing their 50th senior A games.

The team was also wearing jerseys with the name of new club sponsor Insulation Tech NZ for the first time.

Rāhui scored an absolutely massive victory over Levin Wanderers on 1 April, winning the match 74-0.

The Levin team had no answer to Rāhui, who ran in 11 tries.

Morehu Connor-Phillips, Tainui Kaihau and Paora Connor-Phllips – who also kicked two conversions – scored two tries each.

Jake Quin, Liam Tooman, Parekaia Tapiata, Brodhi Archibald and Kapu BroughtonWinterburn also dotted down.

Alizay Roach kicked one penalty and five conversions while Tama Cook also kicked a conversion.

Both Paora and Alizay made milestones in the match, with Paora scoring his 200th

point and Alizay his 100th point in premier rugby.

Brodhi Archibald was awarded three most valuable player points, Dustin Wawatai one point and Ngarongo Selby-Rickit one point.

Rāhui defeated Paraparaumu in the season

Convincing Whiti Te Rā win

BY FRANK NEILL

opener on 25 March, after it led 12-3 at half time.

The win saw Rāhui retain the Vic Ahipene Cup.

As well as being awarded a penalty try, Joel Winterburn, Paora Connor-Phillips, Leon

Ellison and Alizay scored tries, with Alizay adding two conversion.

Morehu Connor-Phillips was awarded three most valuable player points, Leon Ellison two points and Nopera Rikihana one point.

Whiti Te Rā came back from a two-point deficit just after half time to score a convincing win over the Wainuiomata Lions in the Wellington premier Rugby League championship on 15 April.

Playing on their home ground at the Ōtaki Domain, Whiti Te Rā went on to score 14 unanswered points to take out a 34-22 victory.

Following a first half arm wrestle, the home team led 20-16 at the break.

The Lions took the lead just after the second half began with a try, and moved to a 24-22 lead over Whiti Te Rā.

The rest of the match belong to the Ōtaki team, however, as they ran in three more tries while the Lions did not threaten to score again.

Mid forward Teariki Peneha played outstandingly for Whiti Te Rā and was awarded three most valuable player points when he was named man of the match.

Teariki also scored one of Whiti Te Rā’s seven tries.

Co-captain and mid forward Dylan Winiata was another player to have an excellent match for the home team.

Dylan played the whole 80 minutes of the match and was awarded two MVP points, while edge forward Tanira Cooper received one point for his great contribution.

Caleb Martin scored two tries for Whiti Te Rā, and Levi Kemp, Lewy Marshall, Karaitiana Hamilton Waiora Peneha also touched down.

Aaron Taiapa kicked three conversions.

Kapu Broughton-Winterburn makes another run for Rāhui in their convincing win over Waikanae, watched by Joel Winterburn.

below: Whiti Te Rā’s co-captain Dylan Winiata runs at the defence with his fellow co-captain, number 7 Aaron Taiapa, moving to support him.

Ōtaki bowlers make history

BY FRANK NEILL

The Ōtaki Bowling Club’s team has won the DB Gordons Shield for the first time in the club’s history.

The shield is presented to the winner of the Takaro Nines competition, which was contested this year by 10 teams from the Wairarpa, Manawatu and Kāpiti.

The result was still up in the air going into the final game of the competition – the fours match between Ōtaki and North End on 3 April.

Ōtaki was trailing 10-12 with an end to play, but picked up three shots on the final end to claim victory.

The Takaro Nines features each team in the competition playing each other team over a three month period in three formats, pairs, triples and fours.

There are nine players in each team, although Ōtaki ended up playing 10 people as one of the original team members, Roger Papps was sick during the final round. The other Ōtaki team members were Craig and Judy Howell, Paul Selby, Jane SelbyPaterson, Geoff Curtin, Ross McLean, Ruffy Mollo, Dennis Ahern and Don Moselen.

Just how momentous this win was for the club can be gauged from the fact that until now Ōtaki has either finished last or second to last in the Takaro Nines.

It recorded 18 wins and two draw in its 27 games, emerging as the team with the most victories.

The Ōtaki Twight Bowls League finished a hugely successful season on 31 March.

The overall winner of the league, No 8 Wire were then challenged by the bowling club’s three newest recruits, Alan Johnson, Ron white and skip Box Huxtable. The new recruits came out the winners.

This league has been one of the club’s highlights of the season.

It was initiated by the Principal of Ōtaki School, Rauru Walker, who approached the bowling club with the idea.

Mr Walker organised the teams and the competition, while the club provided the greens, bowls, barbecue and the bar. Played during February and March, the league included many young families and children and secured a very loyal following.

All the top finishers in the club’s final summer gala of the season were Ōtaki teams, a very unusual occurrence.

Cam Johnson, Paul Selby and Neil Tunnicliffe took out the top honours with three wins and a draw, just ahead of Dennis Crone and Mark and Jenny McGlone with three wins.

This year’s club champions have been found.

Jan Gowers won the junior women’s title while Pam Lorimer was runner-up.

Ralph Cuester was the junior men’s champion and Geoff Curtis was runner-up.

Jane Selby-Paterson won the senior women’s championship ahead of Stephanie Hansen.

Craig Howell was the senior men’s champion and Ross McLean the runner-up. The closing day for the 2022-23 season will be held at the clubrooms on 13 May, along with the annual general meeting.

below: The Ōtaki team that won the DB Gordons Shield for the first time in the club’s history.

Young Titan wins bronze

BY FRANK NEILL

Noah Ireland-Spicer won a bronze medal in the 50 metres freestyle at the National Age Group Swimming Championships held at the Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatic Centre in Hastings from 12 to 16 April.

Swimming for the Ōtaki Titans Swimming Club, Noah slashed .15 seconds from his personal best when he clocked 24.81 seconds in his third place finish.

Noah’s previous personal best of 24.96 seconds had not lasted long either, as he set that time in the heats.

The 15-year-old also swam outstandingly in the 100 metres freestyle, to finish sixth in the final.

Just as he did in the 50 metres event, Noah clocked a personal best time in the heats and beat that time again in the final. He clocked 56.36 seconds in the heats and 55.61 in the final.

Imogen Waite also took out a sixth place finish, again in a personal best time of 32.04 seconds, in the 50 metres backstroke. Phoebe Nelson finished second in the 50 metres freestyle in the New Zealand Swimming Championships, held in Auckland from 1 to 5 April.

Phoebe qualified for the B final after slashing an impressive .41 seconds from her personal best in the heats when she clocked 26.34 seconds.

Ōtaki’s junior tennis champions

BY FRANK NEILL

Xavier Nikora won the Grand Final of the Ōtaki Junior Tennis Championships. Xavier won the title during the first junior championships the Ōtaki Sports Club has held this century.

The grand final saw a match between the winner of the boys’ singles championship and the girls’ singles championship. That resulted in Xavier meeting Elsie O’Sullivan and he went on to win in straight sets.

Earlier Elsie defeated Pearl Glanville Hall to become the girls champion, while Xavier beat Sam Leason to become the boys champion.

Xavier featured again in the doubles championship, teaming up with Francisco McKenzie to defeat Stanley Butler and Riley Cohen.

Following the junior championships the Ōtaki Sports Club presented six players with awards.

Xavier was named player of the season, Riley and Rona Arahanga-Ruri were named most improved players, Angus Mecoy was named most dedicated player, Pearl won the fair play award and Stanley won the best serve award.

The senior Ōtaki Sports Club tennis championships are now under way, with the finals due to be played some time in May.

Ōtaki 1 won the Wellington mixed A grade post-Christmas Wellington tennis competition.

The team had to come back following a 2-6 loss to the Ōtaki 2 team early in the competition, but managed to just win the title ahead of Churton Park.

That meant the team of Nizar Veerankutty, Jodie Lawson, Hannah Grimmett, Adam Shelton and Leonie Campbell ended up winning both the pre-Christmas and postChristmas competitions during the 2022-23 season.

Ōtaki footballers win opener

Ōtaki 2 won the B grade pre-Christmas competition and was promoted to the A grade for the post-Christmas rounds. Helped by their victory over Ōtaki 1, Ōtaki 2 finished third.

The Monday night men’s team won the Wellington B grade competition and can now look forward to promotion to the A grade when the 2023-24 season opens.

BY FRANK NEILL

Ōtaki Purutaitama began the 2023 Football season with a 3-1 victory over Manakau Hui Mai in the local derby played at Manakau Domain on 15 April.

The Ōtaki team had to come from behind to secure the win, however.

Manakau led 1-0 at half time, thanks to a goal scored by Atain Halley.

A second half hat trick by Ōtaki’s Te Hau Cook-Porter, who was the man of the match, took his team to victory.

Fintan McHugo played a great match for Manakau and was awarded three most valuable player points, while Jamie Allcock was awarded two points and T J Sannazzaro one point.

Ōtaki’s second team, the Ōtaki Puru Master Blasters, did not have such a good day in their opening match against Paekakariki on 15 April.

They had an outstanding first half and led 4-0 at the break.

In what was a classic example of a “game of two halves” Paekakariki came back in the second spell to record a 6-4 win.

Manakau’ second team, Manakau Tuakana Teina, had a bye in the first round. There was no play for any of the four local teams on 22 April, as the matches were cancelled because heavy rain had caused too much pooling on the park surfaces.

below: Noah Ireland-Spicer (left) and Imogen Waite at the national age group swimming championships.

below: The Ōtaki Sports Club’s boys and girls champions for 2023, Xavier Nikora (left) and Elsie O’Sullivan.

What’shappeningthismonthatToi MatarauGallery?

EteiwioŌtaki,pikimaikakemaikitewharetoioToiMataraukiMāoriland!ComeintoToi Matarautoseetwoexhibitionsincludingworksfromcelebratedmasterartists.NgāTūmanako celebratesthe10thanniversaryoftheMāorilandFilmFestival.

Thekaupapaoftheexhibitionis‘Heahatemeanuioteao?’Posingthequestion:Whatisitthat weholddearestinourhearts?Anendearingquestionrelativetoeveryone.

ThereareexquisitepiecesbymultimediaartistsMichelTufferyandIsraelTangaroaBirch, acclaimedpainterDarcyNicholas,ceramicistsMariaBrockhillandFionaBryant,Autetextile artistsNikauHindinandRongomaiHoskinsalongwithatextilededicationbyHuhanaSmith andsisterweaversFiona&ClaudetteCollis.InkspecialistRīhariWarnock,sculptorMessini Palace,lightboxdesignsfromDylanHerkesTeKaianduniquereclaimedartworksbypainter JacquiBroughtonandJaneHakaraia.

TherearemanyotherexcitingworksbyindigenousartistsincludingfromChiricahuaNde Apache/IndigenousMexicantextileandbodyadornmentartistNoelHerkesTeKaiandmany others.

AlsointheToiMatarautocoincidewithTeMatatokiCarversResidencyatMāorilandis‘Toki’,a collaborationofcarversfromaroundthecountry;FayneRobinson,LewisGardiner,JasonHina, TomRatima,ReihanaGrantandJohnnyHauraki.Tokiisanopportunitytolearnmoreabout whakairo,Maoricarvingwithpiecesmadefromwood,steel,pounamuandglass.

Theimportanceofconnectiontowhenua,tetaiao,mauriandmanamotuhakeisinterwoven givingvisitorsaninsightintotheMāoriworldviewfromanartist’sperspective.

Theresponseofartistsactivatesamultitudeofideas,thoughtsandemotionsthatarerelevant andcurrenttotheiridentityasIndigenous,proudandresilientpractitionersofvisual storytelling.

BybuyingauthenticMāoriartaudiencescanalsohelpsupportthoseartiststhathavebeen affectedbyrecentfloodingevents.

ToiMatarauisawhānaufriendlyplaceofwelcomeandlearning.HaveakōrerowithMaathe KaitiakiToi,exhibitionhostandcuratortofindoutmoreabouttheartists.

ExhibitionclosesMay20,2023.

We have just celebrated our 2nd birthday here in Ōtaki! It’s been a wonderful adventure setting up a bookshop and along the way we have met so many people who have become regular customers, book club members and very supportive locals!

With the closing of bookdepository.com ,which offered free shipping from the UK and was a subsidiary of Amazon.com, we hope that local bookshops like ours can benefit from people coming into the shop (or shopping online from us). We can offer a personal shopping experience; we do our best to source the books you want and our delivery service is quick and efficient. Give us a try!

Calling all crime-fiction fans! Sunday 21 May at 3pm in the bookshop, we are planning our first bookshop event for 2023: Conversations with Crime Writers. We will be celebrating the launch of new crime fiction by local authors including the latest from Ann Chapman, The Following Wind, as well as talking about writing in this genre. All are welcome to join us. For more details and to RSVP, get in touch: otaki@booksandco.co.nz

Then, on Wednesday 24 May at 1pm, we will be participating in National Simultaneous Storytime 2023. This year’s book is The Speedy Sloth, a delightful picture book. Many schools, libraries and bookshops in Australia and New Zealand will read the same story at the same time. So come and join us for the book reading with your pre-schoolers, and we will have some activities to go along with it.

Finally, the Ockham NZ Book Awards winners will be announced this month and we look forward to seeing what the judges have picked! We may not always agree with their choices, but there are many great conversations to be had about the merits of each book as perceived by individual readers. There is certainly a wealth of NZ fiction and non-fiction being published every month, and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate these – along with strong international titles – and be able to read and recommend books that we love.

Happy reading!

Jacqui, Tracey & team

Poi Tāniko , Fiona Collis (Te Aitanga-aHauiti, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāi Tūhoe)

Ake Ake Ake , Jacqui Broughton (Ngāti Kahungunu, Muaūpoko)

Kiwikiwi , Rīhari Warnock (Ngāpuhi)

Ngā Arotakenga Mai i Te Whare Whakamatau o Ōtaki

Book Reviews from Ōtaki Library

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens the affinities of those who drink the misra tea. 17-year-old Imani’s affinity for iron make her the leading Shield, battling djinn, ghouls, and the other monsters in the sands surrounding the city.

But ever since her brother was discovered stealing spice then disappeared, Imani’s reputation has been shredded. Then she discovers signs that her brother may still be alive and supplying spice and magic to outsiders. Desperate to find and protect him, she joins the mission to track him down.

This is a really good fantasy adventure set in a fantasy Middle-East. Imani is a complex character who finds herself questioning her loyalties and everything she’s ever believed about her city.

I’m looking forward to the next book, in which I hope to find out what’s going on with the other main character Taha, because there’s definitely mystery about his motives!

Rooms is a magnificent coffee table book – dark, mysterious and absolutely beautiful. Jane Ussher was chief photographer at the NZ Listener for 29 years. She's published many books on NZ history and homes, including Life Inside the Antarctic Huts of Scott and Shackleton. The rooms are filled with extravagant chandeliers, rich patterned wallpaper, thick tapestry carpets, bathtubs and art to die for. It's an elegant, utterly mesmerising book, complete with velvet bookmarks that will transform a rainy afternoon into an exotic one. Make coffee, get comfy.

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

Alice has happy life, likes her job, is independent, has a boyfriend and lifelong friend. On the morning after she turns 40, she suddenly wakes up as a 16year-old again. Her dad is currently dying so time travelling back and seeing a vital, charming 40-ish version of her dad gives her a new perspective on her own life and his. This is an emotional piece of work with layers of 90s nostalgia and sci-fi portals. Alice appreciates what she had and who her Dad was. Past events take on a new meaning. Is there anything that she would change?

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim

Rooms by Jane Ussher and John Walsh

OTAKI IN THE NEWS - 1890s

Selected from early New Zealand newspapers, as written and published at that time.

August 6, 1895

Two men named George and Benjamin Gordon, while working on Mr Atkinson’s new building at Rangiuru-by-the-sea (Otaki) yesterday, fell from the scaffolding, receiving concussion of the spine. Both the unfortunate men are in a dangerous state.

September 5, 1895

The Mail says that Mr E.T. Atkinson has purchased the Manakau hotel building and is to remove it to Rangiuru, on the beach at Otaki. It is to be opened as a public boarding-house.

September 19, 1895

Mr John Webber’s house was completely burnt at 8 o’clock last night, and Mr Webber was burnt to death in it. He was a very old identity, having arrived in Wellington in the Lady Nugent, very early in the history of the settlement. His eldest son was the first white child born in Otaki.

December 2, 1895

Constable O’Rourke, of Otaki, has reported to Inspector Thomson that four young men named George Wright, Arthur Bright, Alex. McClelland and Frank Coates

were out pigeon-shooting up the Otaki Gorge yesterday, and about noon Wright fired at a kaka, and accidently shot McClelland in the legs and Bright in the legs and body. Wright ran to their assistance, and while he was bandaging their legs someone stood on one of the guns lying about, which went off and shot Wright in the sole of his foot. All the sufferers arrived in Otaki in a trap. The doctor considers the injuries only of a trifling nature.

February 20, 1896

The proposed road across the ranges from the Wairarapa to Otaki is likely to become an established fact, as the matter is being taken up by the settlers on both side of the ranges with spirit. Mr A. H. Murray, who was appointed by the Greytown committee, has taken a preliminary survey of the route. He started from the Otaki side, and after a three day’s tramp reached Greytown last Friday. He brought with him the Otaki Postmaster and three gentlemen who had been appointed by the Otaki committee to traverse a line from Otaki to Masterton, which they found impracticable. Mr Murray surveyed three routes, one of which he pronounces practicable for wheel traffic, the distance being 40 miles, with fair grades.

February 20, 1896

The first swimming sports of the newlyformed Otaki Amateur Swimming Club were held at Otaki yesterday. The weather was magnificent and great numbers of people from all parts of the district were present. All the events on the programme were well contested. The chief events were:The Championship Race, for Dr Mason’s (President) trophy, which was won easily by G.A.Tattle, of Wellington; the 150yds Handicap, won by M.Rowell; the 50yds Handicap, won by G. Sharp; and the Long Dive, won by J. Pepper.

May 7, 1896

Miss Ling is staying with her brother at Otaki, and is causing quite a sensation among the Otaki folk with her bicycle and the neat costume she rides in. There are some nice roads about the district, and now the giddy wheel has been introduced there, no doubt a good many girls will follow Miss Ling’s example.

August 4, 1896

Constable O’Rourke’s residence at Otaki, an eight-roomed house, was destroyed by fire on Sunday afternoon, only a small part of the furniture being saved. The only known insurance is £75 on the furniture in the Northern Office. Mr O’Rourke and his family were away from home at the time of the outbreak, and before leaving Mrs O’Rourke had taken the precaution to extinguish with water the dining-room fire, the only one that had been used. Mrs Greenlees, one of the discoverers of the fire, very pluckily ran through every room on the premises to make sure that there were no children left inside.

October 2, 1896

The mortal remains of the Ngatiraukawa chief, Hoani Taipua, who died at Aorangi on Wednesday morning, were taken to Otaki by special train this morning, starting at 5 a.m. About fifty natives accompanied the remains of their late chief from Aorangi and numbers joined the train down the line. It is expected that upwards of a thousand natives will take part in the tangi to be held at Otaki.

January 14, 1897

RANGIURU-BY-THE-SEA

This attractive marine town continues to interest a large number of people. The sale of sections to be held at Otaki on Saturday

Ōtaki Heritage Museum new exhibition opening on track

BY MARGARET ANDREWS

The new exhibition, Te Wāhi Ara Tereina | The Railway , opened at the Ōtaki Heritage Museum, 21 April, to an audience of 60–70 members and current and former business owners at the railway New Ōtaki resident Jan Corbett officially opened the exhibition. “Everything I say is through the eyes of a new Ōtaki resident, a new Ōtaki Historical Society member and the newly retired. It has amazed me how we manage the balance of the exhibition – not too much and not enough. Every person at an exhibition like this can gather and give info on events over years and their memories.”

The huge background work around the development of the railway area was shown in numerous large-scale panels of photographs and text covering the railway commercial area, from Rahui–Mill Roads, to Waerenga Road. Images ranged from some of the earliest up to the present day.

In one of the cabinet exhibits were the printers’ blocks and prints for advertisements for Southgate’s Engineering and McBeth’s Butchery, plus their delivery bicycle’s name plaque.

A roped-off section on the floor holds the original ceiling rose [see image bottom right] from the Railway Hall/Theatre in Arthur Street. This was built in 1934 and had a wide variety of uses in its lifetime: a dance hall; venue for weddings, parties and flower shows; a tobacco factory ; and its final life as a storage facility before it was demolished in 2006.

Back in 2022 the Ōtaki Museum Trustees made an agreement: “to do a series of exhibitions to be collectively called Ōtaki: he Kainga Takitoro, he Kapori Takitahi | Ōtaki three villages one community .” This is printed on one of the introductory panels of the exhibition. There would be three exhibitions covering The Railway, The

Township and The Ōtaki Beach. Last year we had The Village – the township between the railway and the beach , which came in two “sections”.

Now we have The Railway – probably the oldest commercial area of Ōtaki, particularly after the Wellington–Manawatu Railway went through in the mid 1800s.

Kāpiti Concert

BY ANN CHAPMAN

next has every promise of being a successful one…with the township now firmly established as a health resort.

June 29, 1897

By courtesy of the Rev. Father DeLach, we have been shown over the new Presbytery, the erection of which has just been completed in the Roman Catholic Mission ground, Otaki. The building is a most substantial and imposing structure of two storeys, and its external dimensions are: Width of frontage 85ft, depth 30, height 24ft. The interior of the building is divided into nine good-sized rooms, exclusive of pantry, store and bath-rooms, etc. The first floor is 12ft in height, separated by a large hall – study and sitting room in front, and dining-room and kitchen in the rear. A broad staircase leads to the top floor, which is divided into five commodious bedrooms. 10ft in height. This storey also has a convenient passage along the centre. The contractor, Mr Charles Nees, has left behind him, in this new building, further evidence of his good and smart workmanship. The plumbing and brick-work were entrusted to Messrs Williams and Tanner respectively, both of whom have completed their work in a thoroughly efficient manner. The painting and paperhanging which is not yet completed, is under the charge of Mr Morell. A noticeable feature of the building is the novel and, we must say, very pretty designs of paper hangings, which, we understand, have only recently been imported into the colony. It is intended to shortly encircle three sides of the Presbytery with a veranda and balcony, and this will greatly improve the outward appearance of what is indeed already a very handsome and imposing structure.

Orchestra

The latest concert from the Kāpiti Concert Orchestra was another winner. They are an extremely competent orchestra and Kāpiti is lucky to have such expertise here for us to enjoy. For this most recent concert they provided a wide repertoire of music from the modern ‘Remember Parihaka’ by Anthony Ritchie (1960) to the early masters of Brahms (1833–1897) and Mozart. (1756–1791).

Te Raukura was again an excellent venue for the orchestra and this time joined by soloist Bridget Douglas on the flute. The flute has always been a favourite instrument of mine. I learned it as an adult student, but could only dream of the skill

Excels Again

displayed by Bridget Douglas. It was a joy to both watch her play and listen to her. Her interpretation of Mozart’s 'Flute Concerto' was masterful. The ease with which she played the three movements almost brought tears to my eyes.

Bridget is the Principal Flautist of the NZSO, an artist teacher in the NZ School of Music and a graduate of Victoria and Otago universities before a postgraduate degree in the USA.

The Mozart piece was played between ‘Remember Parihaka’. The third piece, Brahms’ ‘Symphony. No 4’, was in my view the star of the day.

above: a painting of (the former) Otaki Vegetable Mart , 1975, by S Russell. This was at the northern end of The Railway, where the realtors and print shop are now.

Media Muse

Oh goody, a new word: “othering.” It’s what you risk doing, apparently, when you ask an Uber driver where he’s from.

You get in the Uber driven by a guy with a big black beard and wearing a turban.

Breaking the ice with the standard conversational gambit, used in taxis and youth hostels around the world, you innocently ask: “Hi, where’re you from . . . originally?” That’s othering according to Clementine De Pressigny – Where she from? Don’t ask. – who writes a weekly column in Your Weekend magazine in which she answers questions from readers wanting to know “how to behave when things get awkward at home, work and elsewhere.”

In the April 15 issue of Your Weekend, a “free” insert in Saturday’s Dominion Post, Clementine advises: “Yes, it’s OK to chat to your Uber driver about where they grew up. But no, I don’t think you should ask them, or anyone, really, where they’re from.

“The reason being,” she explains, “is that it could feel othering.”

There are many ways of starting a conversation, she admits, “that allow a person space to divulge what they feel comforable with.

“If someone offers up information about being from somewhere else on their own terms, then, by all means, engage with them on that in a thoughtful way.”

The column written by Clementine De Pressigny (Where she from? Don’t ask.) is right up front on page three of the magazine. In the April 15 issue, her column was above a panel containing this correction: “In last week’s ‘Their Place’ story with Ruby Jones a caption incorrectly said Miffy the rabbit is a Japanese character. Miffy is Dutch.”

While the speedy publication of the Miffy mixup was commendable, there was no apology for

By Manakau’s Tom Frewen

Miffy who must have been sorely miffed at being the victim of such an egregious othering. But then there was absolutely no editorial rush to correct a much more serious blunder in Stuff’s other “free” weekend magazine, Sunday, inserted in the Sunday Star-Times

In this case the mistake was in its February 19 issue which featured a cover story about a Christchurch writer, Donna Tusiata Avia, including her poem “The 250th anniversary of James Cook’s arrival in New Zealand” extracted from The Savage Coloniser Book, which she and her cousin Victor have turned into a live performance for the Auckland Arts Festival. Although called a poem, it barely qualifies as doggerel in my humble opinion. While judgments on literary merit are inevitably subjective, I am certain of my facts in asserting that Cook, apart from being British, had nothing to do with the colonial administration, savage or otherwise, established in New Zealand about 70 years after his first visit.

Responding to 11 of 24 complaints about the poem, the Media Council (the print and on-line media’s self-regulating body) ruled that it could be described as “a violent fantasy, in which the poet addresses explorer James Cook from the view of a colonised woman, using Cook as a personification of colonisation and its worst aspects, such as murder and rape.

“The poet abuses Cook, describes hunting down “white men like you” and imagines Cook as a modern-day criminal abusing a woman on the street in Christchurch, where Ms Avia grew up.

“It imagines a group of Pasifika women attacking the modern day Cook with a knife.”

Reporting the Media Council’s decision in its April 14 issue, the Dominion Post was more explicit, saying the poem imagined “a scenario in which a group of brown girls plan to take

violent revenge on Cook and white men like him ‘who might be thieves or rapists or kidnappers or murderers’.”

In its sadly muddled 55-point decision, the Media Council says: “The issue of race is core to Ms Avia’s strong view on colonisation and is the very point of the poem, so it is not gratuitous (as is indeed gender).” God knows what gender has to do with it, but Avia’s racial prejudice is based on skin colour. The daughter of a Pākeha mother and Samoan father, she grew up in Christchurch, conscious of her brown skin in that most selfconsciously English and white-skinned of our cities. “I still feel like that teenage brown girl in Christchurch with no voice whatsoever,” she says in the magazine feature.

The Media Council says Stuff decided to publish the poem because it was so “central to her story” which was, essentially, about growing up in a small racial minority with brown skins and feeling “othered” by a predominantly whiteskinned majority, who she now thinks represents colonialism, on which she has developed strong views.

“It's a universal truth about colonisation,” she says, “which is basically it was rape and pillage and massacre. You know, that's what it is. It's a giant massacre. So you gotta be honest about that. Why am I going to sugar-coat it?”

The Media Council agrees totally. “Rape, murder and kidnappings are all crimes committed by colonisers,” it says in defence of Stuff’s decision to publish the poem.

In the end, the Media Council decided, the poem was “undoubtedly a work of art” and art is not subject to the same rules that apply to news, such as the need for accuracy.

One of the most enduring remnants of British colonial rule is the biannual awarding of honours acknowledging individual achievement and service. Ms Avia was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to poetry and the arts in 2020, the year that her The Savage Coloniser Book was published. The $103,000 grant that she and her cousin, Victor Rodger, got to turn the book into a stage

performance came from another hand-me-down from British colonial rule, Creative New Zealand. But irony, scepticism or any critical thought were notable for their absence in the magazine’s profile of Ms Avia.

Siding with the defences put up by the magazine’s editor and publisher, sometimes almost wordfor-word, the Media Council washed its hands of the issue (and its job of judging the merit of the formal complaints it receives) saying “ . . . if readers don’t like a publication’s taste they can write to the editor or get their news elsewhere.”

The Sunday Star-Times , however, is our only newspaper that can claim national distribution. It is published by Stuff Limited which is owned outright by one individual, Sinead Boucher, a Wellington journalist. (Imagine the outcry if her name was Rupert Murdoch.) As the owner of a private company, she is under no obligation to open her firm’s books for inspection to disclose her revenue, assets and profits or losses. Her company is nevertheless the recipient of generous subsidies, drawn from taxpayer revenue by the Government’s broadcast funding agency, NZ on Air, which allocated just over $6 million to Stuff in the past three years.

On second thoughts, maybe gender does have something to do with it after all. According to its website, females outnumber males on Stuff’s senior editorial team by 14 to 11. The two weekend magazines have the same editor, Frances Morton, leading a team of around ten female journalists and designers. The only male in the Your Weekend teams is the gardening editor, William Hansby.

Even more important than gender is age. I’m guessing that virtually all of the editorial team on the two weekend magazines are in their 20s and 30s. My opinion is based on the magazines’ editorial and advertorial content, which has virtually nothing to interest women over 40 or male readers of any age.

The Media Council is quite obviously, like Manuel in Fawlty Towers , a waste of space.

Attendance at Meetings

(1) Cancellation - Meetings may be cancelled for a variety of reasons. Not all cancellations can be readvertised. To confirm whether a meeting is occurring, refer to our website or ring the Manager Democracy Services on (04) 296 4700 or toll free on 0800 486 486.

(2) Venue – Please note that all meetings will be held in the Council Chambers, Civic Administration Building, 175 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu, unless otherwise specified.

(3) Public Forum – a 30-minute session may be held before every Council and Strategy, Operations and Finance committee meeting (9.00 am – 9.30 am) if requests to speak have been received. During public forum attendants can speak on any topic. Bookings are essential. Please book ahead with the Democracy Services Team – an online booking form can be found on our website.

(4) Public Speaking Time – Under Council’s Standing Orders, members of the public may request to speak on any items relating to agenda items. If you wish to request to speak, please book ahead with the Democracy Services team.

(5) Live-streaming: Council and Committee meetings are live-streamed.

(6) Agendas are available two days before the meeting at:

• Our website www.kapiticoast.govt.nz;

• Council’s Libraries and Service Cen tres.

Darren Edwards Chief Executive

Handy folk to know

ŌTAKI Secure Storage

• Secure storage

• long or short-term

• smoke alarms and security cameras

• any size, from garden shed to house-lots

13 & 19 Riverbank Road 0800 364 632

www.otakisecurestorage.co.nz

BIRTHRIGHT

OP SHOP

23 Matene Street, Otaki Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm Saturday 10am – 1pm

Good/Used clothing for sale

Baby clothing $1 Children’s clothing $2

clothing $4 (or as priced)

Cobwebs Op-Shop

Main Street

Tuesday – Friday 10 – 4pm

Currently needing Good-quality men’s clothes and kitchenware

ŌTAKI LOCKSMITH

Adult shoes $3 - $5 Lots of bric-a-brac from $1 Assortment of antiques for sale

We are always looking for volunteers to help in our shop –please see the Shop Manager for an application form.

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

•PPG Water Borne Paint System

•(Environmentally Friendly)

•Spray Booth

•3D Measuring System

•Chassis Straightening Machine

•Inverter Spot Welder

•Crash Repairs

•Rust Repairs

•Plastic Welding

•Courtesy Cars

•All Insurance/Broker Work

RANCHSLIDER & WINDOW 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

Ōtaki Churches welcome you

ANGLICAN

Ōtaki All Saints Church

47 Te Rauparaha Street

Rev. Simon and Rev. Jessica Falconer

Tel: 06 364 7099

Service: Sunday, 10am, Hadfield Hall

For Hadfield Hall bookings, email office@otakianglican.nz

Ōtaki Rangiātea Church

33–37 Te Rauparaha St

Sunday Eucharist: 9am

Church viewing hours, school terms:

Mon–Fri, 9.30am – 1.30pm

Tel: 364 6838

Email: rangiatea.church@xtra.co.nz

Waikanae Whakarongotai Marae

2nd Sunday, 11.30am

Levin Ngatokowaru Marae

4th Sunday, 11am

CATHOLIC Ōtaki St Mary’s ‘Pukekaraka’

4 Convent Road

Fr. Alan Roberts

Tel: 021 0822 8926

Mass Timetable: Tue–Fri: 10am

Sunday: 10am

BAPTIST

Cnr Te Manuao Road/SH1

Tel: 364 8540

Service: 10am

PRESBYTERIAN

249 Mill Rd

Rev. Peter L. Jackson

Tel: 364 6346

Worship: 11am

Cafe Church:

2nd Sunday, 10.45am

Acts Churches The HUB

157 Tasman Rd, Ōtaki

Tel: 364 6911

Family service: 10:15am

Big Wednesday: 10:15am

Otaki

Email: hartleyelectrical@gmail.com

After hours: 06 364 2070

Hartley Electrical Contracting Ltd

Mobile: 021 418 751

Otaki

General electrical contractors for all your electrical requirements

• Preplanning consultations

• Fully qualified staff

Domestic • Commercial Industrial • Farm

General electrical contractors for all your electrical requirements

Domestic • Commercial Industrial • Farm

• Headstones, Plaques & Restoration work

• Personalised, memorable and meaningful services

• Grief support

• Kaitawa Crematorium & Chapel, located in Waikanae Cemetery

Domestic • Commercial Industrial • Farm

Mobile: 021 418 751

Mobile: 021 418 751

After hours: 06 364 2070

After hours: 06 364 2070

Email: hartleyelectrical@gmail.com

Email: hartleyelectrical@gmail.com

General electrical contractors for all your electrical requirements

Otaki

www.waikanaefuneralhome.co.nz 04 293 6844 info@wfhome.co.nz

17 Parata Street, Waikanae

Ōtaki Window Cleaning

• Sparkling clean windows, fast!

• Free window-cleaning assistance for superannuants

• No travel fees for Ōtaki jobs

Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club

BY NIKKI LUNDIE

We would like to congratulate all of our 2022–23 season award recipients. Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club members gathered at the clubrooms, Sunday 16 April, to celebrate and recognise the incredible achievements of fellow clubbies who stood out this season and were awarded for their efforts.

Junior Cups

Most Improved Boy 10 yrs or Under Sidney Growcott

Most Improved Girl 10 yrs or Under Sienna Riggs

Most Improved Boy 12 yrs or Under Toutai Vaka

Most Improved Girl 12 yrs or Under Deryn Watkins

Most Improved Boy U14 yrs or Under Jacob Grindrod

Most Improved Girl U14 yrs or Under Carys Watkins

Outstanding Attitude & Commitment

Most Successful Junior Competitor

Best U14 Board Paddler

Best U14 Swimmer

Senior Cups

Best Senior Swimmer

Best Senior Board Paddler

Best Senior Ski Paddler

Other Cups

Rookie of the Year

Carys Watkins

Toby Mannix

Toby Mannix

Toby Mannix

Luther Maxwell

Ruby Hikuroa

Ruby Hikuroa

Christian Lange-Gerrard

Craig Family Trophy, Most Improved U16 Daisy Braddock

The Progress Award Ella Gilpin

McMurchie Family Trophy, Most Patrol Hours Max McHugo

Pat McGreal Trophy, Volunteer of the Year Sam Gilpin

U19 Lifeguard of the Year Shea Lenaghan

Surfmans Award for Lifeguard of the Year Ray Lenaghan

Some of our award recipients, clockwise from top left: Sam Gilpin, Ella Gilpin, Daisy Braddock, Sienna Riggs, Mackenzie Sherlock, Isla Yaxley, Toby Mannix, Jack Mannix and Toutai Vaka

Ōtaki Beach Charity Surfcasting competition

BY TONY MARTIN

It started as a casual comment during a debrief of the Ōtaki Boating Club’s annual boat-fishing competition: “How lucky are we not to have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, out there enjoying it while other communities have been totally devastated”.

At that moment the idea of an Ōtaki community charity event was born. A quiz night, sausage sizzle, rattle collection tins, raffles? “Nah, lets stick to what we know – our amazing beach and awesome fishing.”

Fast forward a month to 15 April 2023, Ōtaki Boating Club hosted the Ōtaki Beach Charity Surfcasting competition, sponsored by local businesses Koastal Kerb Ltd, Concrete Doctors, Pritchard Civil and Whakatane-based Alpha Pipelines.

The rules were pretty simple: pay an entry fee, fish from 8am to 2pm within the defined boundary (north of the Ōtaki River mouth to south of the Surf Club), catch the heaviest kahawai and win a $1000 cash (adult angler) or $500 (junior angler).

Within the first week of advertising the event, local surfcaster Pat Barrett (of Barrett’s Full House Decorators) offered to sponsor a $200 cash prize for average weight kahawai. As momentum started to build, local businesses started to offer items for raffles and spot-prizes as well as make cash donations.

The club had chosen to donate to the Hawkes Bay Mayoral Relief Fund after hearing about Ōtaki Surf Club volunteers being deployed to that region and the devastation they witnessed while rescuing people off roofs in their IRBs. The day of the competition and the weather really turned it on with bright blue skies and little wind. A total of 141 hopeful anglers arrived from as far as Wainuiomata and Palmerston North and plenty of locals, too, to compete.

Few fish had been caught by lunchtime, and with a 2pm cut-off it wasn’t looking hopeful for a lot of people. Then the carnage arrived.

A huge school of kahawai swam within casting range and rods start bending all over the place. Once landed the fish were quickly ferried down to the weigh station to beat the deadline. The smiles were huge as adults and children

showed off their catches and competition HQ suddenly turned into a hive of activity. A total of 57 kahawai are weighed in.

Raffle tickets were in hot demand, with prizes of a trailerload of firewood, a chainsaw and a huge gift-basket of goodies. Prize-giving commenced while people enjoyed sausages and bacon and beef burgers hot off the BBQs. And the winners:

• Heaviest kahawai, Adult 1.840kg: Isiah Wynyard

• Heaviest kahawai, Junior 1.975kg: Taetea Love

• Overall average weight, 1.522kg: Adam Poihaami

It certainly was an amazing day with many families and visitors enjoying Ōtaki Beach at its finest.

Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who participated, sponsored, donated, supported and volunteered. Without your support we couldn’t have pulled off such a successful and well-attended event with such a short lead time. Our club is humbled by the generosity. Will Ōtaki Boating Club hold another event next year? If its anything like this one, definitely! It was a great event for a great cause.

Acknowledgement of further support goes to: Hobson Mills Law; Wakefields Lawyers; Watson's Garden Ltd; MES Kāpiti – Mower & Engineering Services; Kelly & Co; New World Ōtaki; Mobil Ōtaki; Dowco Associates Ltd; Ōtaki Hunting & Fishing New Zealand; Wild Blue Tackle; Marlan Trading; Riverbank Engineering 2021 Ltd; Ōtaki Beach Store; Ōtaki Hammer Hardware; Black & Co; Ayrpak KGP Ltd; Four Square Ōtaki; Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club; The Graphic Shop; Mike (Mouse) O'Callahan; GM Warwick Plumbing Ltd. Thanks to you all.

left: winner of the Heaviest kahawai, Junior $500 prize, Taetea Love