Ōtaki Mail, February 2023

New Year’s Honour for Lloyd Chapman

BY FRANK NEILL

something that was an integral part of the town that we had lived in for 30 years.

“I conscripted a lot of people in the town to tell stories [about themselves and their organisations],” Mr Chapman says.

“For seven years we did that and I think we did it with a moderate amount of success.

“It was possible with a lot of community involvement,” he adds.

Mr Chapman has also made a series of major contributions to rose preservation. That began after he and his wife retired to Ōtaki in the 1980s.

“We bought 10 acres in Waitohu Valley Road with a ruined house and that was going to be our weekend project.

“We started restoring the 100-year-old historic house and the first step was to transplant our garden. We had a large garden in Wellington, including a lot of roses.

“I took cuttings of all these roses with the intention of transplanting them in Ōtaki. I was surprised to find that they struck very well.

“I thought to myself ‘maybe I should become a nurseryman’.”

That is what he did, establishing Trinity Farm Rose Nursery in 1988 with his wife and growing heritage roses across three acres of land.

“We had a little nursery, growing roses from cuttings. We were the only nursery in New Zealand to grow roses in that way. Usually roses are propagated by budding.”

Lloyd Chapman, well known internationally for his knowledge of and preservation of heritage roses, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order or Merit (MNZM) in the 2023 New Year’s Honours. He is also responsible, with his wife Ann, for ensuring that the Ōtaki Mail continued to operate after the paper’s closure threatened. Mr Chapman was conferred with the MNZM for services to the community and heritage rose preservation.

“We were friends with Annabel McLaren who was the owner of the Ōtaki Mail back in the 80s,” Mr Chapman says.

“She had breast cancer and died, and ownership [of the paper] passed to Wendy Bailey.” Alan and Wendy Bailey bought the

paper in 2002.

“When Wendy announced she was dying, again of breast cancer, the question arose: What’s going to become of the paper.”

Mr and Mrs Chapman thought “it would be terrible if the paper passed into the wrong hands, into the likes of the Murdochs or the press barons who have wrecked a lot of great community papers.

“Having no experience whatsoever of journalism … I put my hand up and said we would buy it.”

Ownership of the Ōtaki Mail passed from the Baileys to Ann and Lloyd Chapman in January 2014, and Mr Chapman continued as the paper’s Editor until he retired in 2021.

“The intention was just to preserve

In addition, the Chapmans became collectors of roses.

“For 30 years Trinity Farm became well known for the sale, not of modern roses, but of old roses. The majority were from the 18th and 19th centuries.”

The Chapmans became interested in a family of hybrid roses – the musk roses – that had been developed in England by Rev. Pemberton. ‘Buff Beauty’ is the best-known of this rose family.

“We gradually acquired almost the entire family, so there were almost 30 hybrid musk roses … and we became quite famous for our vast collection of hybrid musk roses.”

continues p 3

Jamie Bull retires as ZWŌ chair page 10

Mayor's column page 8

Ōtaki Summer Camp page 14

Surf Club update page 24

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Joint tenancy vs Tenancy in common

BY FLEUR HOBSON

When two or more people buy a property they will need to decide the type of ownership they want.

There are two main types of ownership, known as “joint tenancy” and “tenants in common”.

When people are tenants in common, each joint owner has a share of the property, while in a joint tenancy none of the owners have defined shares in the property.

Joint tenancy, where the ownership is not divided into shares, is common with couples who are married, in a de facto relationship or in a civil union.

It means that the property is not a part of any of the owners’ estates.

If one joint tenant dies, then the other tenant automatically becomes the owner of the whole property. This will happen regardless of what is written in the will of the person who dies.

In a joint tenancy none of the owners can mortgage or transfer the property without the agreement of the other owner or owners.

If one of the joint tenants is bankrupted then the joint tenancy automatically ends. A joint tenancy can also be ended if all the joint tenants agree to this. They may do this, for example, because they have decided to switch to a tenancy in common.

When the ownership is “tenants in

Reevedon Village a caring and carefree home for George and Rosalie

George and Rosalie Mason moved to Enliven’s Reevedon Village in Levin because the maintenance on their home was becoming too much.

George says in the seven years since, they haven’t had to worry about property maintenance, insurance, pipes bursting, painting the house, or getting any sudden bills. Although, there is still plenty of room for pots of flowers out the back off the villa for Rosalie, who is a keen gardener, to tend to.

Rosalie says the location of Reevedon Village, with cafes, supermarkets, and a library all close by, is a big bonus.

“Levin is a good place to be and being so close to the shopping centre is a real blessing, we can walk anywhere!”

They have a good relationship with others in the village and with the neighbouring Reevedon Home, where the pair run indoor bowls for residents twice a week.

Rosalie says the village is a social place and the residents all look after each other.

“It’s nice to have the neighbours, everybody is very friendly. We have gettogethers every month and we have outings in the van.”

Reevedon Village is part of the full continuum of care offered by Enliven in Levin, so if a resident’s needs change, so too can the level of support.

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common”, each owner has a share of the property.

The shares don’t need to be equal either. One person may have a greater share, for example, because they have made a bigger contribution to the purchase of the property.

This type of ownership structure is more common when the joint owners are business associates, friends, family, or parties in a new relationship. Unlike with a joint tenancy, people can mortgage or transfer their share of the property without the other owner or owners agreeing.

Each owner can also make a provision in their will stating who will receive their share of the property when they die. Because of this, it is very important for people with this type of ownership to make sure they have an up-to-date will.

When buying a property it is important to talk to your lawyer and get good advice on a variety of things, including the best type of ownership structure for you.

Your lawyer will also need to know whether the structure is a joint tenancy or tenants in common, as this will be

If you are looking to buy a property, we would be only too happy to provide you quality advice and to help you generally. Contact Fleur, Susie or Freya at Hobson Mills Law, 282 Mill Road – opposite Farmlands. Ph 06 364 7190

George and Rosalie Mason have been at Reevedon Village for seven years.

recorded on the land title. In the case of tenants in common, the size of each share will also be recorded.

Lloyd Chapman honoured [

BY FRANK NEILL

Another family of roses Trinity Farm acquired a large collection of were rugosa roses, which are a tough species and lend themselves to growing well in the coastal regions of New Zealand.

A third variety of roses that Mr Chapman has become an expert on are the Barbier roses, rambling roses named after the Frenchman who produced them from 1900 to 1939.

“I am now the world’s acknowledged expert on the roses of Barbier,” Mr Chapman says.

In 2005 there was a move afoot in the world to conserve roses. That led to the establishment of an organisation called Lost Beauties.

“I became a member [of Lost Beauties] and we decided to turn ourselves from a garden open to the public to a rose museum.

“Chris Carter, the Minister of Conservation, opened the Rose Museum in Labour Weekend 2005.

“The intent was to protect and preserve heritage roses and promote their culture, with particular emphasis on varieties that were no longer in commerce.”

In 2007, Mr Chapman had the biggest collection of the wichuraiana rose family in the world, distributing these throughout New Zealand and donating cuttings to public plantings, including to Pauatahanui Burial Ground.

He is a member of Heritage Roses New Zealand, contributing many articles in the Heritage Roses New Zealand Journal and he has also written a book on roses, called The Barbiers and their Roses

He has been a guest speaker at several

historic rose conferences, various garden groups and special-interest groups.

“My passion for roses is pretty all consuming,” Mr Chapman says.

“My mother was a well-known collector of roses and from her I’ve obviously inherited my love of the genus Rosa.”

continued from page 1]

As well as preserving roses, and saving the Ōtaki Mail from potential closure, Mr Chapman’s community service includes his involvement in three organisations.

He was secretary and latterly has been chair of Keep Ōtaki Beautiful, was chair of the trust that restored the Ōtaki Railway Station, and he was a founding trustee and former secretary of Energise Ōtaki.

Energise Ōtaki is responsible for the vehicle-charging station at New World and for the solar farm at Riverbank Road. The organisation has also restored and given away more than 100 bicycles for children and was responsible for the funding of the Ōtaki College solar system, organising a $400,000 grant from the Wellington Community Trust.

Mr Chapman is the third member of his family to be awarded an MNZM.

Ann Chapman, who was Kāpiti’s deputy mayor for nine years and served on the Kāpiti Coast District Council and the Mid Central District Health Board for 18 years, was made an MNZM in 2008 for services to the community.

Their daughter, Nicole Murray – who founded Good Bitches Baking with Marie Fitzpatrick – was made an MNZM in 2019. Good Bitches Baking delivers home-baking to organisations working with people in tough situations.

Otaki

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY

Super successful Christmas Market

Pleasant weather and festive, feel-good vibes brought the 2022 Te Horo Christmas Market (the sixteenth) to a super successful conclusion. The fundraising event added nearly $4k to the hall upgrade budget.

The positive outcome was due in part to the generosity of Pak’n Save who sponsored the sausage sizzle and Santa’s gifts, to local businesses, Te Horo Garden Centre (donation of plants), and Ruth Pretty who donated a boxed Christmas cake. However, the result was largely down to hall committee members, their family and friends who gave time, materials, and donated items.

“The team yet again pulled hard to make this event happen,” committee chairperson, Sharon Hurst said. “They are good-hearted and generous souls and I want to thank them publicly for their commitment.”

Raffle results:

Firewood won by Jennifer, Te Horo

Santa cake won by Chris, Te Horo Money Tree won by Wendy, Te Horo Ruth Pretty won by Rosalie, Paraparaumu Beach

Loved 4 Life continues wrapping new-borns in Christmas quilts. Established in Te Horo in 2007 as a response to the tragic deaths of the Kahu twins, Loved 4 Life continues to create special Christmas quilts for Kapiti new-born babies.

The not-for-profit organisation now has sixteen branches throughout the North Island, extending into Wellington, the Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, Tauranga, Omokoroa, Welcome Bay and Te Tairawhiti as well as three active branches in Kapiti (including Otaki) with more than fifty volunteers. A Loved 4 Life was also established recently in Oamaru. As well as quilts volunteers meet monthly to sew and knit pure merino wool into garments, underlining the original vision of “having a positive impact on families, that every child will be Loved 4 Life and

KCDC removing Te Horo Beach blocks

Kāpiti Coast Mayor Janet Holborow has asked Council to remove the concrete blocks that Council had recently placed at the northern beach access.

Mayor Holborow says she made this call “in recognition of the decision made by council alongside decisions regarding the Beach Bylaw not to have a physical barrier in that location.”

“In retrospect, I’m not sure that

operational responses should have been made during that process, but the fact remains that they were, so we need to honour that.

“The placement of the barrier was to avoid ongoing actions that have been in breach of the bylaw. We still need to address that, but we need to move forward positively and in consultation with the community and, in my view,

parents will have the necessary skills and support to make this happen.”

Founder, Marcia Guest McGrath said their goal was to reach out to families in the local community after a birth to show they are loved and supported.

Loved 4 Life is supported by the Tindall Foundation and Paraparaumu/Raumati Community Boards, and donations from community members of pure cotton fabrics and wool.

The organisation continues to need volunteers who can quilt, knit or cook a meal. For further information contact Marcia Guest McGrath 4mjguest@gmail. com or Helen Thompson helen. thompson@slingshot.co.nz or go to www. loved4life.com

New function and events centre for Te Horo

A unique venue opened recently in Te Horo with the aim of energising and

restoring our environment, to plant an arboretum or library of exotic and native trees for future New Zealanders to enjoy. Arcus is the brainchild and passion project of property owners, Nic Preddle and Alice Hearnshaw who plan to combine regenerative plans with leadership training, corporate gatherings, team building days, staff celebrations, leadership development, away-days, executive offsites and retreats within the rural surrounds. Nic’s leadership training and events company, CluedUp will host the events, welcoming Wellington, Horowhenua and Kapiti business communities to Arcus.

“ For every event held at Arcus, we’ll plant a tree with a plague dedicated to that organisation or group,” said Alice. “So, everyone who supports Arcus becomes a partner to our mission to put more trees in the earth, and that’s got to be a good thing.”

that’s difficult while the blocks remain.

“I am determined to protect the area, and will work with councillors, community board members and the community to achieve that.

“The actions taken by elected members were alongside staff and were carried out in good faith to try to achieve a positive environmental outcome and to support the Beach Bylaw provisions. I support them

in their goal to achieve those aims.

“The removal of the blocks doesn’t condone breaching the bylaw, which doesn’t allow access to the beach from this point.

“Let’s all move forward positively for the good of the environment and the community,” said Mayor Holborow.

Ōtaki Market, Kids' Market

BY CLAIRE ROPER

This January, we wanted to mix things up a bit, and hosted our first ever Kids Market plus regular market. With over 30 tamariki and rangatahi, aged between 6 and 18, having a stall at our market. We were completely overwhelmed with the positive response from the community. It’s was AWESOME! It’s been fantastic to see so many young people experience the fun and excitement of being part of a market. The highs of creating their product and feeling proud of their achievements, and the lows, when due to the weather we had to postpone the kids' market by one week.

Young people from across the region signed up to be stall holders. As well as Ōtaki youngsters, we had kids from Levin, Otaihanga and Wellington. Tamariki and rangatahi made a huge array of products, set up their stalls, created signs and posters, and sold their own products. We had a huge variety of talent, including 16-year-old singer James Stent, (previously appearing on Maori TV, 5 minutes of fame). He sang a selection of easy-listening songs and gave crooner Michael Bublé a run for his money. Our famous sausage-sizzle was run by brother-and-sister team Crys and Darius. They cooked up a storm on the BBQ (with a little help from Mum). Sevenyear-old Maverick and his brothers and sisters sold Yum Balls (aka Lolly Cake),

beautiful colouring twirling wands, fresh free-range eggs from their own chickens and foraged edible garden flowers. Even my kids got involved: Fletcher who’s eight, created miniature garden furniture, especially designed for gnomes, fairies and pixies. Our youngest stall holder, six-year-old Saeda, truly embraced the entrepreneurial spirit and drew designs onto t-shirts using fabric pens. And, luckily for us, there were a few adult sizes in the mix!

If it was jewellery you were looking for, then the kids had you covered! The Crafty Monkey’s – trio of sisters Mykah, Indie and Poppy – had a gorgeous array of jewellery, including earrings, necklaces and keyrings. All handmade and specially crafted for the Ōtaki Market.

Local 10-year-old twins Paige and Scarlett hosted a beading and loom-band stall where customers could make their own necklace or bracelet for $1.00. There was also sister duo Elsa (14) and Lida (10) with their stall Popcorn Craft. They created feather earrings upcycled from bike inner-tubes. They also had a stash of sandwich wraps, which were all foodgrade PUL on the inside and perfect for keeping yummy sandwiches fresh (plus all machine washable).

We also had Otaki MP Terisa Ngobi and National candidate Tim Costley being creative on the Face Painting stall.

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Health Matters: Covid is with us still

BY ANN CHAPMAN

Covid is still out and about in our town as you can see by the graph from MidCentral Health (below), but it does not tell us what variant is here amongst us.

The MoH has reported that the new variant XBB.1.5 also known as Kraken is already in New Zealand. The list of variants keeps growing as the virus

evolves. There is no evidence at this stage to indicate XBB.1.5 causes more severe disease compared to other variants. The MoH also states that relative to many other parts of the world, New Zealand currently has a high level of immunity based on high vaccine uptake, combined with a recent wave of infections (socalled ‘hybrid immunity’).

Vaccines are still expected to provide protection against severe disease from XBB.1.5, particularly in those who have received boosters. We encourage people

to get their vaccine and booster doses when they fall due.

The advice remains the same to keep yourself and your community safe. If you test positive, stay home and isolate. If you think you may be eligible for antiviral medicines, call your pharmacist or usual healthcare provider and ask for a phone appointment to talk about whether antivirals are right for you. You can have the medicine delivered by friends, whānau or the pharmacy’s delivery service. Have RATs on hand so you can test yourself as soon as you feel sick.

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Ōtaki Update

February 2023

Public places and open spaces

Community wellbeing is at the heart of what we do and nothing reflects this more than the public places and open spaces we provide for you.

Summer is a great time to enjoy our parks, and walk, run, cycle or horse ride the 100 kilometres of pathways available across our rohe (district). Choose from the hills, coast, forests, waterways or urban areas – there’s something for everyone. Another great way to experience some of these areas is by registering for the XTERRA Wellington Festival or Kāpiti Women’s Triathlon which we’re supporting on 25–26 February.

If you’re needing to cool off or unwind after all of that activity, then our splash pads, pools and libraries are the perfect place. And don’t forget to join us for free family fun at the Ōtaki Kite Festival during the weekend of 18–19 February and our Movies in the Park at Waikanae Park on 18 March.

Parks and playgrounds

Did you know that we have 49 playgrounds, and parks and reserves covering more than 500 hectares for you to enjoy? They’re part of your community and are free for everyone to use.

From coastal playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, skateparks, flying foxes, pump tracks and mini roads systems, to all-abilities play and adult exercise equipment, there’s something suitable for all ages and abilities.

If you’re looking for vast open spaces, footy fields, cricket wickets, softball pitches, and native flora and fauna, we’ve got that covered too. Ngā mihi (thank you) to the amazing volunteers who help us enhance, protect and restore our natural environment, providing you with beautiful places to explore this summer.

 Find a new park or reserve at kapitisummer.nz/explore-kapiti

Love your local library

Have you been to one of our libraries lately? There’s so much more than books, magazines, and movies on offer. In addition to our online resources and Libby our eLibrary, we host digital drop in sessions and have a collection of devices such as virtual reality headsets for gaming, history and stories, 3D printing, programmable robots, and laptops and tablets with WiFi access to help with tasks like online banking, research, word processing or shopping.

We also run lego, code and minecraft clubs, and regular sessions for pēpi (children 0–2 years) and tamariki (children 2–4 years), have a Craft Cafe’ for adults and holiday programmes for the kids, as well special events such as guest author visits.

 Discover something new at your local library by visiting kapitisummer.nz/ visit-kapiti

Pools and parties

Our public pools provide safe, accessible, and affordable fun for everyone. Waikanae Pool is an outdoor heated pool, with a smaller toddlers’ pool, hydroslide, tuck shop, and plenty of shaded areas for a picnic. It’s a popular spot and will host the following events this summer:

• Waitangi Pool Party, 5 February

• Back to School Water Fight, 11 February

• Summer Sounds, 26 February

Coastlands Aquatics Centre in Paraparaumu is a state-of-the-art facility with a heated pool, toddlers’ pool, hydroslide, spa and sauna, and Plunge Café. Both Coastlands and Waikanae Pools are available to book for birthday parties! Located on the grounds of Haruātai Park, Ōtaki Pool includes a heated pool, toddlers’ pool, spa and sauna, and free-to-use splash pad.

Swimming lessons, pool lanes, and aqua fit are just some of the other offerings our pools provide, and don’t forget to check out our splash pad at Marine Gardens, Raumati.

 Check out kapitisummer.nz/visit-kapiti to find out what’s on offer at our pools.

 For ways to explore and experience Kāpiti this summer check out kapitisummer.nz kapiticoast.govt.nz

Mayor Janet Holborow's report

Arts thrive in Ōtaki

It was a privilege to open the Ōtaki Pottery Club's Festival of Pots and Garden Art at Anam Cara Gardens, Ōtaki, last month. I’ve enjoyed visiting the festival in previous years and have particularly admired the diversity and quality of the work on offer. From small items to large sculptures, from the functional to the abstract, and using a wide range of media from steel to clay, the work on offer always covers a wide spectrum.

It’s also great to be able to see the artists in action. It’s magic to see how they can coax a lump of clay into a work of precision and beauty. The beautiful setting here at Anam Cara Gardens is the perfect venue and provides a lush natural back-drop for the festival.

This year three guest artists featured: Lee Robinson, Maria Brockholl and Bruce Winter. It’s a credit to the festival to see it attracting such a high calibre of artists. Thanks to those high-calibre artists for making yourselves available for this event.

Huge credit to the Ōtaki Pottery Club for organising and mounting this event.

The running of the festival has always been impeccable and ensures a highquality experience for visitors and artists. The festival also couldn’t happen without the huge input and effort of the volunteers. Well over a hundred volunteers were involved, which is outstanding.

Over the past few years Covid has highlighted the importance of the arts, not just for cultural wellbeing, but supporting wider wellbeing, health, social wellbeing, and economic prosperity.

We are so fortunate to have the Māoriland Film Festival and the wider artistic Kaupapa of Māoriland, putting Ōtaki, on the map – not only regionally, but nationally and internationally. I’m looking forward to the festival in March, as the films and events are such an opportunity for learning and cultural education, as well as hugely entertaining. Festivals like the pottery festival and Maoriland are so important to the local economy, and so Art is a key pillar in Council’s Economic Development Strategy, recognising that we are one of the most creative regions in the country. I’ve been on the Creative Communities

Out and about with Shell

SHELLY WARWICK – OTAKI WARD COUNCILLOR

What a difference a day makes to our little town: the day the Te Ara Tuku o Te Rauparaha–Peka Peka to Ōtaki (PP2Ō) opened, felt like a real Christmas present for the locals. It feels like we have our town back; it is easy to get in and out of Ōtaki; easy to get on the Expressway to go north and south; and, to anyone I have talked with since the opening, it is just brilliant. Ōtaki, less the thousands of cars and trucks per day, feels like Ōtaki again – the Otaki of some time ago. I have talked with many locals who would not have bothered because of the traffic in the past and are now are venturing out to shop and eat in our own town in the weekends. I have talked with a few of the business-owners, at the Railway and other parts of Ōtaki, who say business is booming post expressway. Maybe this is because people can get in and out of Ōtaki easily, find a park, and are no longer worried about the traffic jams that held them up after they had visited and delaying them getting home. Penray Gardens has been packed, and is safer now than in the past when vehicles would be trying to get on and off State Highway 1 to go to the vege store or

panel for the past nine years, and each round there is such a diversity and quality of arts programmes across the district, catering for people of all ages and abilities, and across all arts media – music, dance, visual arts, education programmes, literature, film-making and even kite-making. You name it, someone’s doing it here.

From the pottery festival to Māoriland, from the Kite Festival to the Smíšek kilns project – not to mention the shows put on by the Ōtaki Players – Ōtaki is a hub of creativity for the district.

As we drive along the new expressway, it’s great to see the artistic elements and gateway sculptures welcoming visitors and reminding us of this cultural richness and diversity.

pick strawberries. The beach has been busy as people visit without the stress of getting stuck in traffic on the way home. It has been a long time coming, and so far I have not heard a negative comment about it at all.

Next, our Cycleway, Walkway, Bridleway (CWB) that will link Ōtaki to the rest of Kāpiti will be opened. It will open around mid-march with an opening event being planned by KCDC. The delay is necessary due to the crossing and safety work being done on the ex-State Highway 1, which could not be undertaken until the PP2Ō was open and the bulk of the traffic was off that road. Good things come to those who wait! The CWB will be a fantastic opportunity for our town and should surely boost business and also give locals access to a network of CWB that will enhance our recreational opportunities. Thank you to the Fletchers team who worked incredibly hard to have this open before Christmas 2022.

On another note, pre Christmas I engaged with KCDC staff about a

New Year message from the Ōtaki Community Board

Cam, Simon, Jackie, Christine and Councillor Shelly would like to send their very best wishes to our Ōtaki community for a safe and happy New Year 2023. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the emergency services, social services and water safety volunteers who have worked through the holidays to ensure we have a safe summer here in Ōtaki.

The inaugural Ōtaki Community Board meeting in December 2022 went very well and marks an excellent start to the triennium with a great team.

The Ōtaki Community Board believe that 2023 is going to be a year for strengthening relationships with the community and iwi, and are planning to organise some public forums/workshops to give the community a say in how they want to see Ōtaki grow in the future.

potential little clean up of the basketball court at Ōtaki Beach. Over the next week or so some cleaning and repairs are planned for the court – not a complete renewal, but it should be a good improvement. This will happen over about five days. We have talked about the potential of some family-friendly additions, such as seating, and I will continue to work with staff on these improvements.

Remember, the Ōtaki Kite Festival in a few weeks. This event, run by an army of volunteers through the Ōtaki Promotions group (OPG), is an amazing free event that is only possible because of volunteers. It is also an opportunity for so many local groups and clubs to fundraise with foodstalls. So, come and support the local community. I will be making candy floss for the Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club on one of the many stalls that will be raising money for our kids to pursue healthy active recreation. Thank you to the ŌPG who organise this event. Welcome 2023! I'm sure it will be a year of positives for our little town: ‘Sunny Otaki’.

Shelly

above: Rod Graham and Mayor Holborow at the opening of the Festival of Pots and Garden Art

Ōtaki Pottery Club's annual Festival of Pots and Garden Art, 2023

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY [IMAGES BY VIVIENNE BAILEY & MARGARET ANDREWS]

Steamy summer showers did not deter the many hundreds of visitors to the expansive and lovely Anam Cara Gardens, the inside and surrounding exhibition space heaving with an array of garden art and pottery… and people. With an improved layout enhancing the pieces, the Ōtaki Pottery Club should be justly proud of their latest event that featured many forms of pottery and ceramics, from domestic-ware to large sculptural pieces, and framed art works in wood, stone and steel. Guest artists included Lee Robinson, Maria Brockhill and Bruce Winter, who joined the wide array of locally created artwork.

Largely self-taught, Ōtaki artist, Lee Robinson has been painting for more than 14 years, exhibiting regularly and completing commissions, with her work held in private and public collections both nationally and internationally.

“Acrylic is my preferred medium and I enjoy painting a wide variety of subjects, from still life and landscapes to figurative work and portraits, in a realistic style,” she says.

From New Plymouth, Maria Brockhill is a clay artist creating large, sculptural works, brightly glazed and decorative.

“The making and firing of clay takes time and patience and there are many variables involved,” she says. “I try to create work the viewer will find beautiful and interesting, that has a sculptural presence, usually in vivid, primary colours.”

Maria sources her clay from the Manawatu area and her work is exhibited nationally and overseas.

Sculptor, Bruce Winter is based in Upper Hutt and is known for large outdoor sculptures reflecting his stonework skills and experimentation with mixed media constructions combining wood, stone and metal. He uses recycled materials as an inspiration for something new.

“I create and utilise the inherent emotion of materials that have been worn and corroded,” he says. “And incorporate these into works that evoke a mixture of nostalgia and curiosity.”

Zero Waste Ōtaki update: Jamie Bull retires as chair

BY JO LYNCH

“The time was right,” said Jamie Bull about her decision to not seek re-election as the chair of Zero Waste Ōtaki, at their first AGM in November last year. “It was right for me and the organisation. And while it was a decision tinged with considerable sadness it was made easy for me by the fact that Zero Waste Ōtaki is now well established, operating well and at a place where it is not dependent on one person driving it. The organisation is bigger than us as individuals and, after five years, it is time for me to step back and create a space for others.”

“The early years were tough,” says Jamie, “particularly as the impact of Covid meant that those who were alongside me at the beginning had to shift their priorities elsewhere. There was even a strong suggestion of discontinuing with the project. However, the reality was we already had a container paid for (thanks to the Nikau Foundation), though not yet delivered, so we were committed.

“Our inaugural committee – Jane Bell, Leigh Cowan, Graham Evans, Liz Frances, Barbara Hoverd and Alan Hoverd – are continuing on and have been joined by Rose Siva. I would like to publicly acknowledge the significant work they have done and continue to do, along with all our other wonderful volunteers.”

Jamie gives special credit to Ruth Clarke, who became the Waste Projects Manager at KCDC in October 2020, and to current ZWŌ Coordinator Jane Bell for the project’s successful development.

Coordinator Jane Bell says that without Jamie ZWŌ would not have happened.

“Her dream was to set up a recycling organisation in Ōtaki. After a few months, of the original group who were behind the idea, only she and Dave Timperley remained. As well as Chair, she took on a lot of the work needed to establish a successful organisation.”

Good energy, good times

BY EMILY MCDOWELL

This year many of us are changing our energy. Using less for more; for more life. For healthier lives, shared well. Literally to save lives in coming years, by doing the best we can to help slow the crises of climate catastrophes – of our elemental systems ‘losing it’.

If the questions are ‘Where do we get our energy from?’, ‘How do we use it?’, and ‘What gives us energy?’, Energise Ōtaki wants to help provide the feel-good answers. Because ‘good’ energy choices make for good times. When the stakes are this high, it’s great to know the rewards for changing our energy come in the flavours that make humans love being human: health, connection, comfort.

If you would like to join us in supporting projects powering energy change, please check out energise. otaki.net.nz or drop in to 7 Main Street, any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 10am and 2pm. Energise Ōtaki is sad to farewell

“We are still finding our footing without Jamie at this stage,” says Jane, “And, as always, we welcome new volunteers. People tend to think that being a volunteer involves heavy work with timber, but there are a lot of other things that they can do. We’d like to get into using some of the small bits of timber that would otherwise be thrown away, to assemble kitsets that people could buy. Kitsets of things like bird boxes and sawhorses. There’s also an opportunity for skilled people to upcycle furniture. That’s what we would like to be doing this year.”

ZWŌ continues to help the community and planet by reducing waste. Up to end of December they had diverted 29.7 tons of wood from the landfill.

At the AGM, the committee and key volunteers acknowledged Jamie with a magnificent bunch of flowers from the berm on site, and a bird box, made from recycled ply.

founding member Lloyd Chapman. Lloyd's knowledge of the energy industry (among many areas of expertise including as owner/editor of Ōtaki Mail) has been key for the trust’s evolution.

Says Chair Leigh Ramsey, “Lloyd’s

Helping people walking to Ōtaki Forks

BY FRANK NEILL

Ōtaki Gorge residents Kathleen and David Campbell operate two initiatives to help people who have to now walk the last few kilometres of their journey to the Ōtaki Forks.

people now have to walk to access the two camping grounds in the Ōtaki Forks area and to join up with the tramping tracks into the Tararua Forest Park.

The idea for buying the carts came when Kathleen saw a man and his girlfriend walking up the Gorge track.

“They were laden with packs on their backs and in front and with both hands full.

The Campbells bought the carts from Bunnings, and Bunnings came to the party by paying for the cost to have the carts transported to the Campbell’s property by helicopter.

They have put up signs where the road access ends at their gate saying the carts are available for use for a koha.

“I call them ‘koha carts’, because we ask for a donation,” Kathleen adds.

People are using the carts – especially when they have to carry items such as tents and other camping gear.

The Campbells have bought 10 carts to help people transport their gear. They have also placed a drink station at their gate, where people can refresh themselves with spring water.

The Campbells live just inland from Blue Bluff, where a massive slip saw the road slip into the Ōtaki River in September 2020. Theirs is the only property that no longer has road access as a result of the slip.

Road access from Blue Bluff to the Ōtaki Forks has been stopped ever since, and

The people are usually looking to camp at one of two camping grounds in the Ōtaki Forks area. One is at Boielle Flat, around 4km inland from the Campbell’s gate and the other is at Schoolhouse Flats, a further 2km inland.

The drink station is proving popular, too. At 4:30pm on the day the Ōtaki Mail visited the Campbells there were 15 plastic drink containers in the recycling bin at the drink station.

As well as the carts and the drink station, the Campbells have also placed a book at

their gate where people can record their thoughts on whether or not the road should be reopened.

Many people are saying they would like to see the road access restored. Quite a number, however, are saying they would like to see access restored, but not access for vehicles.

As well as closing the road, Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC) has put up signs telling people not to walk over the slip. The Department of Conservation (DoC) has provided an alternative track around the slip area, but the Campbells estimate that walking the alternative track adds an hour to the journey for most people.

As a result “the vast majority of people walk over the slip,” David says.

Following the big slip that cut the road access, the Campbells say they have received good support from KCDC to get supplies to their property.

“They have made sure we have support, and they have kept in reasonable touch with us, especially before the track was built” that runs around the slip.

“Plans to open a walking track over the Ōtaki Gorge Road slips currently blocking access to Ōtaki Forks and the Tararua Forest Park are on hold pending further geotechnical and other expert assessment,” KCDC says.

“The slip area is starting to dry as the weather improves, but deep-seated water is still coming out and it remains hazardous.

ZWŌ is open every Wednesday 9.30–10.30am, and the last Sunday of the month, 9.30am – 12.00 noon. Keep up to date with our activities via our Facebook page or visit www. zerowasteotaki.nz.

And if you would like to go on our mailing list or be a volunteer, please email zerowaste.otaki@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.

all-round enthusiasm and positivity was a huge gift to the Energise Ōtaki vision and work. We are deeply grateful for his time, advocacy and insights over many years.”

In particular, Lloyd has steered or co-steered education projects with Ōtaki College, the development of Rau Kūmara solar farm, and our new carbon forests project to offset Ōtaki's carbon emissions by planting 32 hectares of native forest.

Lloyd just became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community (and heritage rose preservation!). While Lloyd is no longer an Energise Ōtaki trustee, we look forward to continuing to benefit from his many good works.

“Live-monitoring equipment has been installed to provide better information about movement and activity, and sensors are showing there has been some slipping caused by the wet winter.

“We are seeking further advice from geotechnical engineers and track experts.

“The DoC-built emergency walking track is open and provides access to the Tararua Forest Park. Please note, this is a challenging walk requiring good fitness and tramping experience.

KCDC staff expect to present options for the Ōtaki Gorge Road to the council in March.

above: Retiring ZWŌ chair, Jamie Bull

above: David and Kathleen Campbell with one of their carts at the drink station they have set up at their gate

below: the lower section of the slip on the upper Ōtaki Gorge Road in 2020

The Rongoā Space

BY JOANNE HAKARAIA

Rongoā of the Month

RUNA

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

Plants grow to bring balance and support for Papatūānuku. Since we mirror Papatūānuku, it’s a good idea to learn what’s growing around us naturally. Have you thought about the whenua you live on? Ever think about the magnificent trees that once grew on the whenua? The seeds are still there. Shift your frequency a notch and you’ll get a sense of the old trees; the wetlands that once filtered are still there; the old rivers are still flowing. We can tune-in to the ancient wisdom when we sit still long enough to contemplate.

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

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

Runa or Paewhenua ( Rumex obtusifolius ) is a prolific plant that grows in many places. Even though it is not native to Aotearoa, it was used as a rongoā by our ancestors for many years. Runa is a perennial plant, most often found growing in neglected, disturbed ground like open fields and drainages. It’s a pest to a lot of people and it’s a tough old plant to pull out. The stems are strong and penetrate deeply into the earth. The whenua that it grows on is usually hard and robust ground. It has a large tap-root system that drills down to what often feels like the core of the Earth. It is more tolerant of poorly drained soil than many other plant species, so is often found growing prolifically in lowlying parts of paddocks. Its tap root indicates that this is a drought-tolerant plant and super powerful to be able to push its way through the hardened soil.

As a rongoā, runa is known to have astringent properties. Applied externally, the leaves were used as a poultice to treat blisters, burns and scalds. The root was made into a wairākau and used as a blood purifier or detoxifier. It’s a great plant to learn to identify as it grows everywhere and, if it’s growing near you, what could you learn from it?

more sliminess you expose when harvesting, the more tender the greens will be. Early summer, runa produces tall flower stalks that have copious amounts of seed that can be dried and made into flour. In Ōtaki it’s in seed right now. Do not ingest this plant without being able to confidently identify. The information contained here is not meant to replace medical advice, diagnose or treat any disease.

Are you interested in learning about rongoā for healing? I have a free workshop coming up on the 25th March in Ōtaki. Please register your interest on our website www.tewakarakau.com

To learn its rongoā, here are some pātai to ponder ā kikokiko and ā wairua:

What is the taproot searching for?

What could the role of runa be for Papatūānuku?

What could runa do for us?

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

Runa is edible and best ingested cooked. The best time to harvest for kai is late spring. It is rich in Vitamins A & C, and minerals iron, manganese & nickel. One of the best identification features for runa is a small, thin sheath that covers the base of each leaf. This is called the ocrea, and it turns brown as the plant ages. The condition of the ocrea can be a good indicator of how tender and tasty that plant is. Another way to identify runa is by the slimy substance of the stems. The

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU, ŌTAKI

welcomes our Ōtaki community into 2023.

CAB has re-opened its office and our trained volunteers are there to assist you with independent and confidential advice. We welcome you to visit, telephone or email us to discuss any query or issue you may have.

CAB office hours

Monday–Friday | 10am – 1pm

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

65a Main Street, Ōtaki | ph 06 364 8664

email: otaki@cab.org.nz

Te Pou Whakawhirinaki o Aotearoa

Flower garden

Watson’s Garden Ltd

Rudbekia (Echinacea purpurea) – Artisan Soft Orange and Cheyenne Spirit

A wonderfully vibrant perrenial. Excellent late-summer flowering border plant and cut flower. We have a range of varieties and colours.

Gardening with

Garden tasks for February

Feed dahlias and chrysanthemums and keep well staked and tied.

Lift early gladioli when foliage turns yellow, and start planting spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, freesias, anemones, ranunculus, sparaxis, ixias, grape hyacinths, tritonia and lachenalia.

Water your roses by thoroughly soaking once a week, and spray for mildew.

Dead head perennials, flowering annuals and roses as flowers finish.

Prepare autumn flower beds prior to planting by digging in compost and a general garden fertiliser.

Sweet corn, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, courgettes, garlic, early carrots, peas and beans are all ready for harvest – pick sweet corn when the tassels have begun to dry, and harvest cucumber and courgettes as they come ready (pretty much every day), to encourage steady fruiting.

Powdery mildew on cucumbers and pumpkins can be controlled by spraying with Yates Nature’s Way fungus spray.

Use Derris Dust to prevent white butterfly caterpillars on cabbages and cauliflowers.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis

Fijian – Cooperi

Hibiscus are great for pots, or they do well in coastal gardens. Require a sunny, well-drained, frostfree position, or close to a warm wall. Easy care and gorgeous flowers. We have a lovely range of colours available.

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

Sow seeds of wallflower, bellis, candytuft, godetia, arcotis, delphinium, honesty, larkspur, snapdragon, pansy, lupin, nigelia, nemesia, polyanthus, stock, alyssum, scabiosa, linaria, aquilega and lobelia.

Plant out annuals in the garden and in containers: alyssum, viola, sweet pea, lupin, cornflower, linaria, primula, stock and wallflower.

Fruit and vegetable garden

This is the time to plant your winter garden – plant seedlings of cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, silver beet, Brussel sprouts, celery and spinach.

To get veggies for late autumn and winter crops off to an excellent start, feed the soil at planting time with compost or use it as mulch in early autumn.

Lift and dry shallots, onions and early crops of potatoes, and start to earth up early planted celery.

Keep your summer salad supply going and plant lettuce seedlings as you harvest.

Sow seeds of beetroot, parsnip, swedes, spring onion, cabbage, broccoli, celery, leeks, cress, carrots, spinach, radish, kohl rabi, Brussels sprouts and silver beet. Prepare ground for strawberry planting and watch out for mildew on apples and botrytis on grapes.

Prune stone fruit immediately after harvest and cut out old canes of raspberries and similar fruit.

Your citrus trees will appreciate an application of fertiliser this month – sprinkle around the drip line and water in.

Trim away leaves covering grapes to expose fruit to ripen in the sun, and use bird netting to protect from birds.

Lawns

Autumn is the time for lawn maintenance but continue to keep your lawn well watered and use Butlers Feed and Weed to control weeds in preparation for autumn re-sowing.

Second thoughts

This can be the hottest month and many insect pests will reach their most active phase – regular checking and watering will almost certainly be essential.

Focus on growing figs

Ease into TE HORO GARDEN CENTRE for INDOOR & OUTDOOR PLANTS HIBISCUS

Tropical

Magnificent flowers. Various colours to choose from ranging from white, pink, red, yellow and orange.

TIBOUCHINA Peace Baby

Stunning compact variety with beautiful white flowers with pink stamens.

Figs are one of the most delicious fruits, deserving top marks for versatility – sweet as candy, and suitable for eating raw, cooked or dried.

They are native to an area stretching from Northern India to Turkey – stolen tablets from the now Southern Iraq, dating back to 2500BC, record the use of figs.

The trees are not difficult to grow (and can live to a ripe old age) but produce the best crops in a warm, Mediterranean-type, relatively dry climate. Ideally, plant in a sheltered position with full sun, preferably on warmer north to north-east facing slopes (the best climate is one closest to that of the Middle East). They are frost tender until mature and require protection from winter’s colder temperatures.

MONSTERA Adansonii

Swiss Cheese Vine

Easy-care indoor pot plant. Can be trained upwards on a support or left to trail in a hanging basket.

Long flowering throughout the year. Great for pots. 1x1m

TE HORO GARDEN CENTRE

Cnr old SH1 & Te Horo Beach Rd

TE HORO

Ph 364 2142

Shopping made easier with access from old State Highway!

Although figs can tolerate dry conditions, they need plenty of water during the growing season to produce large, succulent fruit, and young trees should be watered regularly until established. In drier areas, mature trees will require to be watered every two weeks – you’ll know if your trees need more water as leaves will begin to turn yellow.

Figs will not tolerate waterlogged soil and should be planted in well-aerated and well-drained soils. These deciduous trees are extremely vigorous and perform well in deep soils – heavy clay soils are great for figs as these don’t stimulate too much growth.

If your soil is too high in nitrogen (figs love compost) they will grow and grow, but not produce good crops. In fact, trees can grow quite large and need pruning to prevent shading of fruit, which delays ripening. Figs adapt well to being grown in pots however, they will need watering daily during summer and re-potting with fresh soil every three years. You will also need to keep the plant pruned to a manageable size.

Your tree will produce two crops during the fruit season.

The first of these grows on old wood, so it’s important not to prune trees back severely – the second crop will grow on new growth.

Be sure not to pick your fruit before it has ripened – figs will not ripen once they have been removed from the tree. When fully ripe the fruit will be slightly soft and start to bend from the neck – picked fruit will keep for 2-3 days in your fridge.

Figs are rich in complex carbohydrates, fibre and minerals, including potassium, copper, magnesium and calcium – it is reported that half a cup of figs has the equivalent amount of calcium as half a cup of milk. ‘Black Beauty’ is a good fig to try – vigorous and producing lots of fruit – the tasty, juicy flesh is a rich, dark colour.

A late variety, ‘Adriatic’ is also prolific, bearing bright green, medium to large fruit with a yellow tinge – the sweet flesh is strawberry-red in colour.

An early season variety to try is ‘Genoa,’ which produces medium sized fruit with green to white skin. The flesh is yellow amber in colour and is sweetly good either fresh or dried.

the Ō taki Mail

Summer climbers

Heading any list of summer climbers must be the gorgeously scented star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoide. With robust, glossy foliage (large, leathery, oval leaves), and a profusion of small (2 cm), white, star-shaped flowers, it looks lovely over a brushwood fence, drenching the air with sweetness in early summer (mine smells most intense on a warm, sunny day).

Originating from Malaysia, the twinning vine has a sticky, milky sap, and can grow to 7 m but is usually smaller. It needs support, either with heavy cord or wires, to develop the strong, wiry stems in the direction you want them to grow (a supportive trellis also works well). Easily grown in any moist, well-drained soil, and happy in full sun or partial shade, star jasmine will do well in a container, and is an excellent ground cover over banks and sandy hillocks. But do plant where you can enjoy the fragrance the plant is known for. Perhaps lesser known is the aristocratic bell flower or Lapageria, a handsome climbing plant with dark green glossy foliage and long, bell-shaped waxy flowers (7-8cm long and 5cm wide at mouth). The rose-red blooms are produced in summer through to autumn and are truly beautiful (there is also a pure white form). The plant needs a cool root run, rich, well drained soil with plenty of compost, and is able to tolerate light frost only.

Almost-hardy, the small Pandorea genus includes some spectacular climbers including the showy Pandorea jasminoides. Coming from the warm, coastal regions of Australian states, New South Wales and Queensland,

The culinary use of flowers dates back thousands of years. You’ll find rose petals in many Indian dishes, squash blossoms in Italian, and lotus flowers and water lilies used in Asian cultures – lotus rhizomes, or roots, are delicious stir fried as a vegetable – crunchy and spicy.

To ensure flowers are safe to eat, it’s best to grow your own (for the best flavour, pick edible flowers on the day buds open). Roadside blooms are vulnerable to pollution by car exhaust, those in public places have probably been sprayed with toxic garden spray, and some bought flowers have been chemically treated to keep them fresh as cut flowers. Safe flowers to use include herb members of the mint family, such as sage, rosemary, thyme and oregano, which are commonly used to add flavour in cooked meat, grain and vegetable dishes, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use their flowers also. If your herb can be eaten, then it will also be safe to use its flowers.

The flowers of mint range in flavour

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

the vigorous twiners like a hot, sunny (though they will grow in light shade) location away from prevailing winds, and rich, moist well-drained soil. Large, bold clusters of blooms appear from early summer through to autumn (they usually flower better in sun, but foliage retains its glossy, green colour better with light shade). For a great show of creamy-white flowers you can’t go past ‘Lady Di.’ Her handsome foliage and form and widely flared, trumpet-shaped flowers (5 cm wide, with delicate, chartreuse-yellow shading in throat) make the vine a summer favourite for me. For pink flower lovers there is ‘Rosea Superba’ which produces clusters of light, soft-pink flowers with a darker, maroon-crimson throat. Pandorea jasminoides is perfect for trellis, pergolas, patios or archways.

A native of South America and a spectacle of dazzling summer colour, Bougainvillea is possibly the showiest tropical vine in cultivation. At this time of year, the vigorous and vibrant, and deservedly popular, ‘Scarlet O’Hara’ looks brilliantly festive with her large, pendulous sprays of distinctive scarlet to crimson flowers (it’s the bracts surrounding the tiny, insignificant flowers which give the flamboyant display). Give these vines a frost-sheltered, dry location on a sunny trellis where they will use their spiky thorns (these are mean and nasty, beware) and twiggy, stiff branches as anchors. They are also happy in a container, but are best on a warm, sun-filled wall where there is little colour competition.

Edible blooms

from very mild, such as apple mint, through to the heady pungency of eau de Cologne or basil mint. Other members of the mint family, like hyssop and lemon balm, also produce edible flowers.

Borage flowers are pretty with a sky-blue colour, and have a light cucumber taste, great in fruit salads, green salads or frozen in ice cubes for cold drinks. Don’t bother freezing the white flowers of its sibling though – the flowers are almost invisible.

The colourful blossoms of nasturtiums have a peppery flavour, much like watercress, and all colours and varieties are tasty in salads or as garnishes – the leaves can also be eaten.

Calendula flowers range in colour from pure yellow to orange and red, and they’re an easy and prolific edible flower that’s easy to grow from seed – separate petals from the centre of the flower, and sprinkle into salads and cold dishes. Add petals to bread, biscuits or pikelet batter for a delicious orange hue.

Daylily buds have a nutty flavour, pickle whole or stir fry. Or garnish consommé style Asian broths with finely sliced daylily flowers for an authentic taste and attractive finish. The pink pom-pom flowers of chives have a mild onion flavour and are delicious in green salads, potato and pasta salads and dips – remove the central stem from the flower cluster to release the separate florets. Scarlet runner beans produce bright red flowers, which are great mixed into a salad, or with steamed veggies, and the tiny flowers of violas, such as Johnny Jump-up, have a wintergreen flavour, and look pretty on cakes and other desserts – you could glaze with warmed jelly for a jewelled look.

Flowers will always taste and look their best immediately after they’ve opened, but you can keep blooms fresh by placing on a moist paper towel, and refrigerating in an airtight container – some will last up to ten days this way. Ice water can also revitalise blooms.

Ōtaki – Education Town

Hugely successful Ōtaki Summer Camp

BY FRANK NEILL

More than 200 young people, all with the vision of making the world a better place, attended the hugely successful Ōtaki Summer Camp, which ran from 20 to 23 January.

The fifth Ōtaki Summer Camp proved as successful as the four that preceded it, and gave the 220 young people (17- to 30-year-olds) who registered the opportunity to explore ways to improve a series of issues facing New Zealand and the world.

In total, just under 300 people attended the political summer camp, including the 30 people who live at the property and the 40 volunteers who helped in a variety of ways, including preparing the meals.

The three “core problems” in New Zealand are lack of housing, climate change and child poverty, one of the keynote speakers, Bernard Hickey, said.

the government needed to repeal the Resource Management Act (RMA).

The RMA did include some useful objectives and controls, but these needed to be included in new legislation.

Bernard has developed an online initiative called the Kākā Project, which people can access by searching ‘Bernard Hickey Kaka Project’.

“Free public transport is in the Kākā Project,” he said. Another suggestion is to have road with six lanes – two lanes for cars and trucks; two lanes for pedestrians and cyclists; and two lanes for buses.

“We need subsidies for electric vehicles – for scooters and bikes, as well as for cars like the Nissan Leaf,” Bernard said.

“This kaupapa, Ōtaki Summer Camp, is a really good kaupapa,” another keynote speaker, Te Rangi Moaho Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe), said.

Te Rangi is the grandson of the well-known Tāme Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe), and these two gave a joint presentation to the camp.

“This kaupapa will plant some seeds for everyone and they will carry it for the rest of their lives.”

“It is amazing to be here,” Tāme said.

“It is really important to have this space – to have these conversations.

“How do you have the bravery and courage to speak up?” Tāme asked.

Firstly “you have to find your voice.” It took him the first 17 years of his life to find his voice.

Another factor was to accept that “change doesn’t have to be huge”.

“We need to let go and make the shift.

“We need to build and create the villages … so all of us can participate and make the changes.

“And we need to allow people to have a different opinion,” he said.

“In 2040, hopefully we will be a very developed Aotearoa,” Te Rangi said.

“It’s up to us, the youth.”

One way young people can help create positive change was by using social media.

“Social media is big these days.

“That’s how you can change the youths’ minds – go big on social media,” he said.

“People can change, and I have seen change,” Tāme said.

Many of his whānau were involved in the military. They were “very patriotic” and involved every ANZAC day in remembrance services.

When members of his whānau were having a party before going to serve in Vietnam “we had the conversation, the debate about it. Why are you going over there to kill people?”

After they returned from the Vietnam war “a lot of them came back and apologised” to him, he said.

“So people can change and I have seen change. It’s about having these conversations.”

Also, with the land marches “people changed quite dramatically”.

“Sometimes we need to go back to the ancient story – go back to the beginning.

“That’s where our future is and we can go forward from there,” Tāme said.

“I really enjoyed the camp,” says one of the young people who attended, Te Kahariki Hough, who lives in Ōtaki.

Coming to the camp “inspires me to step outside my comfort zone,” she says.

“I love meeting the people and seeing how passionate they are, and learning new things.

“The workshops they put on are awesome. They are really thought-provoking.”

As a result of attending the camp, Te Kahariki says she would “definitely like to explore” becoming involved in action that can help make New Zealand and the world a better place.

When opening the camp, one of the organisers – the well-known journalist Nicky Hager – made a special mention of all the Ōtaki people and organisations who had helped make the event possible, and thanked them “All through Ōtaki there are all these people who are helping in all sorts of ways.

far left: Bernard Hickey during his presentation to the Ōtaki Summer Camp bottom right: Te Rangi Moaho Iti (left) and Tāme Iti on stage at the Ōtaki Summer Camp.

“The cost of housing should drop so that people do not pay more than 30 per cent of their disposable income on rent,” the leading New Zealand financial journalist and editor told the summer camp.

“I want [our children] to have enough money left over after paying their rent so they can save up to buy a house.”

In Ōtaki, the median rent is $530.

“Rents need to halve. Housing costs need to halve.

“A tax on land would achieve that,” Bernard said.

“I think we need a broad-band low tax on residential land that is not iwi land. Iwi land should not be taxed and Crown land should be handed back to the local iwi.”

What he is promoting is a 0.5 per cent tax on all residential land that is owner-occupied, and a 5% tax on residential land that is an investment (such as people owning properties for rental) and on unoccupied land. Bernard called this an “affordable-housing and climatechange tax”. It should be used to reduce carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2030 and create more affordable housing and the public infrastructure to service the housing.

It should also be used to fund a new government entity, an Affordable Housing and Climate Change Commission, which the government should establish. In addition “everyone should be able to do whatever they want on their land.”

New Zealand needed to remove building restraints, and

Ōtaki College News

February 2023

From Principal Andy Fraser

Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou, Happy New Year

A very warm welcome back to all our current students and whānau. We trust that you have had a fantastic holiday and look forward to your return to the 2023 school year, with the hope that it is much calmer and proceeds with greater continuity than the previous few. To all our new students, we are looking forward to meeting and greeting you at the College pōwhiri on Friday 3rd February. We hope that this will be the commencement of a strong and positive relationship during your time at Ōtaki College. All information concerning start-back details, uniform and stationery sales can be found on our website www. otakicollege.school.nz. All parents and whānau should feel free to contact me on afs@otakicollege. school.nz at any time should you require further information about the school and/ or any support you may require in the future.

Ngā mihi, Andy Fraser, Principal Everiss Scholars Travel to England and Scotland

On 4 January, Krisha Modi and Jessica Thomsen departed from Wellington to travel to London and on to Scotland as our first recipients of the Everiss Scholarship (formally Sander Scholarship). The itinerary for their trip included three days in London site-seeing with former Ōtaki Scholar, Sean Press, and then travelling on to Aberdeen to spend time at Robert Gordon’s College. Their stay included a formal wreathlaying ceremony in the town of Cowie to commemorate the bravery of Pilot Officer Carlyle Everiss. Along with a tour of Scotland, Krisha and Jessica were scheduled to have morning tea with Princess Anne at Holyroodhouse, a private tour of Edinburgh Castle, time

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with former Ōtaki Scholars and a visit to an RAF base where they viewed fighter jets taking off and flying out over the North Sea.

The following is an extract from an article about their visit, published in a Scottish paper, the Falkirk Herald. It is written by George Fergusson, British High Commissioner to New Zealand from 2006-2010 and a current Trustee of the Everiss Trust.

“A new Everiss Scholarship commemorates the 24-year-old New Zealand pilot who stayed with his crashing Spitfire in 1941, steering it away from people in the village [of Cowie]. The two first scholars were at a ceremony in his memory at the crash site, by Cowie Bowling Club on January 16. It echoes a scholarship set up in 1937, which has taken a Scottish student to New Zealand. Two young New Zealanders laid a wreath at a memorial in Cowie recently, completing a link with Scotland which began in 1937. The sinking of a New Zealand merchant ship in 1917 and the death of a young New Zealand pilot in a Spitfire crash in Stirlingshire form the unusual background to a unique student exchange.

The visitors, Krisha Modi and Jess Thomsen, are the first Everiss Scholars, beneficiaries of a programme honouring the memory of Pilot Officer Carlyle Everiss, an RNZAF pilot who stayed with his Spitfire as it crashed near Cowie in 1941, ensuring that it missed the centre of the village. They visited Everiss’ grave in Grangemouth before the ceremony.

The ceremony, at the Carlyle Everiss Memorial at the Cowie Bowling Club, was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire and Falkirk, Mr Alan Simpson, the New Zealand Air Adviser in London, Wing Commander Steve Thornley RNZAF, Flight Lieutenant Conner Adlington RAF, representing the Air Officer Scotland, the Heads and

representatives of Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, St Margaret’s Primary School in Cowie and Pat Maguire, President of the Bowling Club, where the memorial was erected in 2007.

Eighty-five years ago the New Zealand Shipping Company, whose lightly armed cargo ship SS Otaki had been sunk with the loss of the Captain and three others, set up the Otaki Scholarship in memory of Captain Archibald Bisset Smith VC. The company gave each year’s dux of Bisset Smith’s old school, Robert Gordon’s College, a trip to New Zealand, where the scholar would tour the country, visiting leading schools and staying with local families. Over the years, a distinguished line of Scots benefited from this experience, including Sir Graeme Catto, later President of the General Medical Council, and rugby stars Calum and Chris Cusiter. When the shipping company stopped operating, the scholars flew to New Zealand. Unusually, they have also been given guest of government status by the New Zealand Government, with an official car and driver and meeting the Governor-General and, often, the Prime Minister.

The new Everiss Scholarship, is a Scottish thanks for this longstanding New Zealand generosity to young Scots. A trust was set up, with half the funds coming from donations from former Otaki Scholars, and the remainder from the Wood Foundation and Babcock International. The beneficiaries are the

winners of a leadership competition at Ōtaki College, a secondary school north of Wellington, in the town which the SS Otaki was named after. After several delays because of Covid travel restrictions, the first two scholars, Krisha Modi and Jess Thomsen, are visiting Scotland this month. Before the Cowie ceremony, they laid a wreath at Carlyle Everiss’ grave in Grangemouth. Besides a period of attachment at Robert Gordon’s College, they are touring Scotland. In Edinburgh, they were received by Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, in Holyroodhouse, and among other visits and calls on VIPs such as Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson, spent a morning at the Parliament as a guest of the Presiding Officer.”

below: wreath-laying ceremony at Cowie

above: Lossiemouth RAF Base

Tennis teams looking to repeat stunning success

BY FRANK NEILL

Eight of the nine Ōtaki teams finished either first or second in their pre-xmas competitions during the club’s most successful showing possibly in its history and certainly for many years.

The club has also seen a huge increase in the number of teams that will play in the post-xmas competitions.

Five junior teams were in the pre-Xmas competition, and this number has more than doubled, with 11 teams entered in the post-xmas contests.

Overall, the club has increased from nine to 16 interclub teams, with the addition of one more senior team, which will compete in the Monday night men’s B-grade competition.

Ōtaki’s mixed A-grade team convincingly won their pre-xmas campaign, finishing undefeated in the Wellington interclub competition when they scored an 8–0 whitewash over the second-placed team, Vogelmorn, in the final game of the series.

The squad of Craig Eves, Leonie Campbell, Hannah Grimmett, Tom Caines, Adam Shelton and Jodie Lawson notched up four maximum 8–0 wins, two 7–1 wins and a 6–2 win.

above: Hannah Grimmett, a member of Ōtaki’s victorious mixed A-grade team, during one of her victories.

The Ōtaki Sports Club is looking to follow up on its stunningly successful pre-xmas interclub tennis performances when the post-xmas draw begins on 28 January.

The mixed B-grade team also won their competition and won promotion to the A grade, creating club history as this is the first time Ōtaki has two teams in the A grade.

The team of Emma Whiterod, Ema Moore, Monique Moore, Oriwia Raureti, Heitia Raureti, Pātaka Moore, Pereri Hathaway and Callan Nikora weren't just about the tennis either; normalising the

use of te reo Māori publicly was at the core of the team’s kaupapa.

The mixed D-grade team also had a successful pre-xmas competition result, finishing second and winning promotion to the C grade.

The fourth Ōtaki team, playing in the men’s fifth-grade competition, finished mid table.

Ōtaki’s top junior team, the Hit and Misses – Sam Leason, Elsie O'Sullivan, Davy Leason and Pearl Glanville Hall – were second in the KapiMana junior B-grade pre-xmas draw and have been promoted to the junior A grade for the post-xmas draw.

The Ōtaki Aces – Stanley Butler, Daya Bramley, Wyeth Andrews and Riley Cohen – were undefeated in taking out the C-grade title.

Ōtaki Kakama – Jessica Wilkinson, Ailie Ironside, Francisco McKenzie, Xavier Nikora and Charlie Henderson – had only one loss, to the Ōtaki Aces, and finished second.

The two junior C-grade teams dominated their pre-xmas KapiMana draw and have both been promoted to the B grade for the post-xmas draw.

Ōtaki Māhuri, playing in the KapiMana Hot Shots (junior novice) competition, ended up with the club’s best winning statistics.

Maximus Beauchamp, Hunter Pritchard, Stewart Johnston, Angus Mecoy and Maapihi Pritchard won the competition with a week to spare, notching up five 8–0 victories over the seven rounds.

Local sevens player helps NZ to victory

BY FRANK NEILL

Ōtaki rugby player Fletcher Carpenter helped New Zealand to victory in the World School Sevens Tournament, held in Auckland on 17 and 18 December.

New Zealand defeated Samoa in the final to claim the 2022 crown.

“It was a pretty cool experience.

“Topping this would be hard,” he said, when asked what his highlights were. “Representing not only my family but my country on the international stage was great.”

Fletcher staked a claim to the New Zealand jersey after he made the Palmerston North Boys High School sevens team that played in the Gordon Tietjens Tournament in October. Not only did he help his team win the tournament, when they beat Feilding Agricultural High School 22–7 in the final, Fletcher was also named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Gordon Tietjens himself presented the MVP trophy to Fletcher. This tournament was one of a number of sevens events Fletcher played late last year, including the Condors Sevens tournament featuring schools from throughout New Zealand.

His school placed third in the Condors Sevens, and Fletcher was named in the tournament team.

“I’ve always loved playing rugby,” Fletcher says.

The 18-year-old has been playing for much of his life, too, starting with the Rascals at the Rāhui Football and Sport Club when he was just four years old. His father, Paul Carpenter, coached the young Rāhui team his son played in for

two years. Then there was a merger of two teams and Paul joined with Makaore Bevan-Wilson as a coach of Fletcher’s team right up until he went to college.

In his final year with the club, Fletcher was a member of the Rāhui team that was undefeated on an end-of-year tour of Australia.

“It was a great little team,” says Paul. “I’m pretty proud of Fletcher. He has done very well.”

His achievements so far demonstrate that people from small communities “can do anything they want to do if the put their mind to it, which is great.” Fletcher, he adds, “is very proud of where he’s from – Ōtaki.”

He comes from a long line of Ōtaki residents.

One great-great-great-grandfather, Henry Sharp, came to Ōtaki in 1895 and managed the Telegraph Hotel during the 1890s.

His grandmother was a Winiata before she married, giving Fletcher a link to another significant Ōtaki family.

Fletcher attended Waitohu School before spending his intermediate school years at Ōtaki College.

He then studied at Palmerston North Boys High School.

He has just moved from Ōtaki to Tauranga, as recently as 15 January, with the aim of furthering his rugby career and to work in an orchard.

The second team in the Hot Shots competition, Ōtaki Hihiko – Isabella McKenzie, Lila Porteners, Sam West, Tai Mana Moeke, Isaac Bridge and Oliver Martin – were only eclipsed by Ōtaki Māhuri, and finished second.

Grant for Basketball

Ngāti Raukawa Ki Te Tonga Basketball Club is the only Ōtaki recipient in the latest round of funding grants made by the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT).

NZCT announced on 8 January that it has made grants totaling $437,000 across the Wellington region in its latest funding round.

Ngāti Rawkawa Ki Te Tonga Basketball Club received $14,785 for travel and accommodation.

NZCT has 11 gaming venues in the Wellington that contribute to these grants. The only gaming venue in Ōtaki is The Family Hotel.

above: Fletcher Carpenter, with the ball, makes a run for New Zealand at the World School Sevens Tournament in Auckland late last year.

Ōtaki Titans in the medals

BY FRANK NEILL

The Ōtaki Titans picked up a bunch of medals, including one gold, at Wellington Long Course Swimming Championships, held at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre from 21 to 23 January.

Phoebe Nelson [pictured] won the gold medal in the 50 metres butterfly.

She went on to add two more medals to her tally, with silver in both the 50 metres and 100 metres freestyle.

Noah Spicer also had an outstanding meeting, winning four medals in the 15-year age group.

His three silver medals came in the 50 metres and 100 metres freestyle and the 50 metres breaststroke. Noah added a bronze medal in the 50 metres butterfly.

Imogen Waite picked up a silver medal in the 50 metres backstroke and a bronze medal in the 100 metres freestyle in the 16-year age group.

Kokoro Frost was the Titans other medal winner, winning a bronze medal in the 50 metres butterfly. Kokoro also gained two fourth placings, in the 50 metres and the 100 metres backstroke.

Jacob Winter finished in the top six in five of his races. He was fourth in the 50 metres backstroke, fifth in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle and the 50 metres breaststroke and sixth in the 50 metres butterfly.

Greer Winter also had a top-six finish with fifth place in the 50 metres backstroke.

The Titans also had a great finish to last year, winning two bronze medals at the Wellington Regional Relay Meeting in December.

Ōtaki cricketers still on top

BY FRANK NEILL

The Ōtaki Cricket team was totally dominant in defeating Levin College

Old Boys Young Guns by a massive 130 runs on 21 January.

The victory ensured that Ōtaki remained at the top of the Horowhenua Kāpiti Cricket Association’s Presidents division-1 T20 table.

Batting first, Ōtaki scored 211 for the loss of five wickets.

Both Kere Strawbridge and Sam Casper ended up with the same figures from their four overs, with each taking two wickets at a cost of 15 runs.

Conrad Moeahu also took two wickets from his four overs, while conceding just 18 runs.

Ōtaki passed the Paraparaumu total on the fourth ball of the 17th over, scoring 118 for the loss of four wickets.

Both the under-16 boys and under-16 girls hit the wall in third place in their relays.

Four members of the Ōtaki Titans Swimming Club came out the winners of Swimming Wellington’s 2022 Awards.

The club’s head coach, Seuga Frost, won the Club Contributor of the Year award.

Jonathan Winter, who competed at the 1996 Olympic Games as well as three Commonwealth Games, won the Service award.

Jonathan joined the Titans as assistant head coach at the beginning of last year.

Stacey Faith won the Honours award and Kokoro Frost won the Volunteer Coach of the Year award.

Kokoro also swam in an international competition in December, when he represented Samoa at the World Short Course Swimming Championships.

The Titans completed 2022 with two high placings in Swim Wellington’s 2022 club rankings: they were first for participation and fourth in the power rankings.

This saw them ranked as the top Kāpiti Coast club, ahead of Raumati.

Michael Papps [pictured] was the top scorer with 57 runs from the 35 balls he faced.

Fraser Imrie scored a whirlwind 43 not out from just 15 deliveries, while wicketkeeper Greg Selby also kept the scoreboard ticking over rapidly and finished 31 not out from 24 deliveries. In reply the Young Guns lasted only 16 overs and two balls and were all out for 81.

The wickets to fall were evenly shared by the Ōtaki bowlers, who finished the match with some impressive figures.

Fraser Imrie added to his outstanding batting performance by taking two wickets for only 8 runs in the three overs he bowled.

Hunter Topliff also took two wickets and conceded just 11 runs from his two overs, while Jimmy Fraser took two wickets at a cost of only 13 runs from three overs.

Ōtaki also scored a comfortable victory over Paraparaumu at Haruātai Park on 14 January.

Paraparaumu batted first and reached 116 for the loss of nine wickets.

Opener Michael Papps was the game’s top scorer with a well compiled 53 when he was caught on the boundary.

Vince Kilpatrick also batted outstandingly and scored 36 not out. In what has been a season marked by rain preventing play, the two games on 17 and 10 December were washed out. The week before Ōtaki emerged the victors in a closely fought encounter with Waikanae.

Waikanae batted first and scored 116 for the loss of eight wickets.

Ōtaki only passed that total in the final over when they reached 117 for the loss of six wickets with just four balls remaining.

ABC – Authors Book Corner

BY ANN CHAPMAN

Next month, Kāpiti-based writer Angela Robertson will officially launch her latest book this month. Called Changing Gears: Entrepreneurs @ 50+ . It is her third in a series of inspirational books aimed at the over 50s and was released on New Year's Day 2023.

This little book tells the stories of men and women who decided to change

their lives and directions after they hit 50. It reflects on changing circumstances, health issues, along with looking at the challenges, lessons learned, and the tips and techniques needed to make the changes you want. Wise words, commitment and determination are the themes of this book.

She says that globally there is an emerging trend for people to start a business in later life. The stories Angela tells of the 33 intrepid men and women are about the triggers to change, the business they started, the challenges and the successes. From the ‘out there’ to the conventional, the businesses discussed show a vast amount of creative thinking, bravery and the old Kiwi ‘can do’ attitude. This little book resonated with me: Lloyd and I changed directions many times. Once, in our late 40s, when we left professional jobs in Wellington to live on ten acres of bare land in a derelict house. No plans except to develop a garden based on our great love of oldfashioned roses. From that evolved a rose nursery, which we managed for 20 years until age got the better of us and we sold it. Next, in our late 60s, we took over the local newspaper to save it from oblivion. We had no experience in newspapers, and no experience in writing, but we learned quickly using Lloyd’s skills as a computer expert in a previous life. Both times we did it cold and this little book would have helped focus us.

�J-(ARVEY BOWLE�

n c. HOR�WHENUA CREMATORIUM

Knownfor Excellence. Trustedfor Value.

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

• Chapels in Levin, Shannon and Otaki

• Cemetry Memorials

•We own and operate Horowhenua Crematoriam

• Large variety of Caskets and Urns

And I did it a third time when I stood for council and the district health board, changing from an agitator to director. A book like this could have helped as well. Then we both changed directions again when we both turned our hands to writing books.

If you are thinking of changing your life, this is a book to dip into (along with her two others called Creating Life on Your Own Terms and Embracing Life on Your Own Terms) . The book explains how our lives can change, move direction for a number of reasons and why we shouldn’t be afraid to do so. And it does so it an easy manner, which is very readable.

With more than 30 years of experience, Angela is an inspirational speaker, coach, facilitator and writer. She has worked in complex and geographically dispersed organisations, including government, highereducation, private and the not-for-profit sectors.

Her goal is to help and support peoples dreams, by inspiring individual and organisations to identify, develop and capitalise on everyone’s talents. She believes that everybody has the potential to achieve their goals and aspirations and

flourish. She says, ‘It is the most wonderful thing in the world to inspire people to capitalise on their strengths, to apply them to new challenges and see them shine.

Her books are available at Books & Co, Main Road ,Otaki.

Thanks to the generosity of our customers, we were delighted to be able to donate 100 brand new children's books to two local charities — the Ōtaki Foodbank and Horowhenua Women's Refuge — as part of the Kiwi Christmas Books scheme. Both charities were very grateful for the books, which were distributed to families for Christmas. Looking back at our Best Sellers for 2022, New Zealand content makes up 80% of the top 20 spots! That's local authors, local publishers, local stories and information. And in the top 10 children's books, apart from David Walliams, the other titles are all NZ.

Adult Top 20, 2022

1. The Edible Backyard Kath Irvine

2. Aroha Dr Hinemoa Elder

3. Harbouring Jenny Pattrick

4. Wawata Dr Hinemoa Elder

5. The Bookseller at the End of the World Ruth Shaw

6. Atlas of the Heart Brené Brown

7. The Lincoln Highway Amor Towles

8. Kāwai Dr Monty Soutar

9. Blood Matters Renée

10. Nga Pepeha a Nga Tipuna Hirini Moko Mead; Neil Grove

11. Cloud Cuckoo Land Anthony Doerr

12. Confession of an Emigrant Elena Mihaila

13. Pruning Fruit Trees Kath Irvine

14. Kurangaituku Whiti Hereaka

15. Straight Up Ruby Tui

16. The Forager's Treasury Joanna Knox

17. From the Centre Patricia Grace

18. Lessons in Chemistry Bonnie Garmus

19. Matariki Rangi Matamua

20. A History of New Zealand in 100 Objects Jock Phillips

Children's Books Top 10, 2022

1. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy Lynley Dodd

2. Matariki Around the World Miriama Kamo, Dr Rangi Matamua

3. Atua - Māori Gods and Heroes Gavin Bishop

4. The World's Worst Pets David Walliams

5. How Do I Feel? Rebekah Lipp

6. I am Autistic Chanelle Moriah

7.

Kuwi & Friends Māori Picture Dictionary Kat Quin; trans. by Pānia Papa

8. The Great Kiwi Bedtime Book Donovan Bixley

9. The Little Yellow Digger Betty Gilderdale

10. The Greatest Haka Festival on Earth Pania Tahau-Hodges & Hemi Morehouse

below: Dr. Angela Robertson

“ Had Jane Austen sat down to write a country house murder mystery, this is exactly the book she would have written .”-

Alexander McCall Smith

This book became a ‘murder mystery’ when the notorious Mr Wickham is killed after turning up to a house party that was being hosted by Mr Knightley and Emma. As a lover of Jane Austen, I was intrigued to see what had become of some of her characters in this story. The Darcys were now older, and their eldest son Jonathan was one of the main characters that solved this mystery – along with Juliet Tilney (keen for adventures beyond Northanger Abbey).

Naturally everyone in the house had some sort of unsatisfactory involvement with Mr Wickham, which made it difficult finding his killer when most people were suspects!

From Taranaki poet Debbie Broughton, The Ani Waaka Room brings a collection of poetry which celebrates the survival of Debbie’s Taranaki ancestors who were forced by war to leave their homelands for Te Aro Pā. Debbie's poems are stirring, thought-provoking, inspiring and courageous.

A warm, fascinating autobiography of Ron and Clint Howard’s early careers and adventures in Hollywood.

TV viewers in the 60s and 70s will remember The Andy Griffith Show , Happy Days and Gentle Ben – successful TV series in those decades.

Award-winning actor and film-maker Ron Howard, and successful character-actor Clint Howard, share their family story of navigating and surviving life in Hollywood as sibling actors, guided by the best parents ever. With fame and opportunity came stress and bullying. The brothers delve into their ‘normal’ upbringing, which was not at all ‘normal’. Recommended for those who like a nostalgic and heartwarming story. This is a successful survival story of a family of four, and two brothers who overcame child-actor syndrome.

biologically active, secreting inflammatory hormones and creating oxidative stress on the body’s tissue. This contributes towards many diseases:

- cancer, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension

- osteoarthritis and faster degeneration of affected joints

- urinary bladder stones

- lack of regular, appropriate exercise

What can be done for your pet?:

- Veterinary consultation to ensure no other health issues are present

- appropriate exercise - depending on weight/fitness of the pet (playing "fetch" may not be the best exercise for a dog who is very overweight)

The

James Patterson, has written more than 200 novels

Reading was not a passion in his youth, though this did change in his student days. He was from a small town in upstate New York, a great athlete, and a 1960s hippie who was at Woodstock. Starting as a copywriter, writing advertising jingles for J. Walter Thompson, at the age of 37 he became CEO of the company.

In his thrilling life he interacted with famous actors like James Baldwin; befriended famous singers like Dolly Parton; played golf with three U.S. presidents; and co-wrote a best-selling book with Bill Clinton.

Each chapter reveals personal, humorous stories that are entertaining and enjoyable. If you read James Patterson's books, you will enjoy this easy and engaging autobiography.

different and we would love to help you with getting your pet ‘beach’ ready. Call us today for a free weight clinic consultation.

Help your pets achieve their ‘summer body’...

We all want our dogs to live for as long as possible but, for example, more than 45% of dogs, weighing more than they should, will in fact have shortened lifespans. A large Labrador study showed that dogs carrying extra weight of as little as 10-20% above ideal, will have a 2yr shorter life-expectancy in comparison with a lean dog. Fat was previously understood as fairly inactive tissue, storing excess energy calories and adding to body mass. We know now that fat is

Sometimes excess weight is a sign of diseases such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) or cushing's disease (overactive adrenal glands). It is important to rule these out.

Some reasons for the extra weight:

- genetics - some breeds are more prone to weight gain and this is especially true once our pets are sterilised

- treats - these are often high in calories and sometimes 4–5 treats a day can equate to an extra meal per day

- not all cup sizes are the same - use the cup made for your pet's specific food or measure the food to start with to ensure it is correct

- feeding guidelines are just thatguidelines, each pet is different

- feeding a prescription diet specifically designed for weight management - reducing their normal food is not a good technique as it means your pet will be hungry and may eat other inappropriate things

- Join the "pet summer body" programme at Otaki vet and the team will work with you and your pet to ensure a steady, safe weight loss

We are here to help you identify whether your pet is caring a little extra or is at that perfect weight. We are inundated with images of what is a healthy weight and what is unhealthy, but each pet is

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contact@otakivets.co.nz

www.otakivets.com

Come and meet our friendly team

The Murder of Mr Wickham by Claudia Gray

The Ani Waaka Room by Debbie Broughton The Boys by Ron Howard & Clint Howard

Kia ora from the Ōtaki Public Library – Te Wharepukapuka o Ōtaki

Stories of My Life by James Patterson

OTAKI IN THE NEWS - 1880

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

20 February

Honors for Otaki – We are glad to notice from English papers that on the recommendation of the Colonial Office, the Royal Humane Society’s Medal has been awarded to William Jenkins and his boat’s crew for saving upwards of 100 women and children from the wrecks of the City of Auckland and the Felix Stowe, off the coast of New Zealand. As the vessels referred to went ashore near Otaki, and the disasters were fully recoded by us, we know sufficient of the circumstances to feel assured that the medal was well deserved.

14 June

Great indignation is felt among the settlers at Otaki at the abominable condition of the lock-up in that place. The room in question is about 10ft. x 4ft, and the furniture consists of one well-worn blanket, one ring fastened in the centre of the floor, and one dog chain with which to fasten prisoners who are likely to attempt to escape. This latter article has been absolutely necessary, and still is, to prevent the escape of prisoners, as it is a comparatively easy matter for a man to kick out a couple of boards, and effect his escape. Adjoining this cell is a disused room, which emits a most disgusting odour. It is certainly enough to chill one’s blood to think of some poor drunken wretch chained to the floor, with one thin blanket to cover him on a freezing night. The matter has been brought under the notice of Mr Ward, R.M., and it is hoped the scandal will be removed.

10 September

A monster chop, weighing 2 ½ lbs, has been exhibited at Wellington. It was cut from a pure-bred Leicester sheep, weighing 13 !/2 lbs, bred by Mr J. Death, of Otaki, and one of a mob of 600 averaging over 100 lbs.

17 December

Improvements at Otaki: A very handsome and commodious dwelling-house has just been finished for Mr R. Ransfield, at Otaki. The building, which has two stories, and is a double gable with two bow windows, is quite a feature at the entrance to the township, opposite Mr T. Seymour’s. The verandah between the gables is very handsomely finished, and the whole building has a capital appearance, the painting being quite a feature in itself.

Mr Bright has shifted his cottage a few feet away from the Telegraph Store, and Constable Mitchell is occupying it. That officer has now the most comfortable quarters of any constable on the coast. The new verandah in front of the telegraph Store is also a great improvement. Altogether the appearance of the township is greatly improving, and we congratulate the residents of the fact.

29 December

The members of the Otaki School Committee, during the last week of the school term, examined the children for prizes, by request of the teacher, Mr Lee. Mr Simcox took the different classes in arithmetic, the Rev. J. McWilliam the reading and writing, Mr Carkeek the drilling, and Mrs Simcox kindly consented to examine the sewing, and give two special prizes. The examiners were unanimous in giving credit to the children for the progress they had made since the school was opened. On Thursday the children and parents numbering over 180, had a picnic by the river side. This occasion was taken for distribution of the prizes, 21 in number. The school children sung some songs, and Mrs Simcox then handed to each child its prize, accompanied by encouraging remarks. Cheers were then given for the Committee and teachers, and three big ones for the ladies who had supplied such a bountiful spread. After a day of hearty enjoyment, the children returned home in breaks lent for the occasion by the settlers.

29 December

Mr Bell’s butcher shop at Otaki was most handsomely

decorated for the Christmas show on Friday last. The show was a capital one, comprising beef, mutton, lamb, poultry, sucking pig, and other articles to be found in any first class town shop. The whole affair was a credit to Mr Bell and to the township, and would have favourably compared with any establishment of greater pretensions.

28 January, 1881

A well attended meeting of householders was held at the school house, Otaki, on Monday evening last. The following gentlemen were elected as a School Committee for the ensuing year :- Messrs W. H. Simcox, M. Carkeek, Rev. J. M. Williams, T. Buckley, F. Bright, P. Anderson, and C. Mitchell. At the meeting of the Committee afterwards held, Mr M. Carkeek was elected chairman, and Mr T. Buckley secretary and treasurer. REPORT.

The following report of the old Committee was read by the Chairman to the meeting before the election

:-When your Committee commenced their duties this time last year, they found that a contract for the erection of the school-house had been entered into and was to be finished early in March; but the contractors were unable to complete the work and hand the school over to the Committee until May. In the meantime application was made to the Board for desks and other necessaries for opening the school, as soon as the school could be completed. In reply, we were informed that the desks would be made in Palmerston and sent on. A teacher was appointed and kept idle over four weeks, waiting for the desks, etc., which had been applied for nearly three months before his appointment.

The Chairmans was now instructed to open the school with nothing but the bare floors, but this farce your Committee declined to carry out.

The desks, etc., were eventually sent, and on the 14th June, more than five weeks after the building had been taken over from the contractors, the school was opened with a good attendance of 41, which soon increased to 64.

During the time we were waiting for the desks, etc., application was made to the Board for funds to erect the necessary out-buildings. After considerable delay a sum of £6 was granted. As this amount would not even buy the timber the work could not be done.

Some difficulty now arose in connection with the mid-winter holidays. The Board feeling, perhaps, that some recompense was due to us for the great neglect they had displayed in opening our school, now instructed the Chairman to keep it open during the holiday time, but as your Committee failed to see that this was either just or legal, we declined to carry out the Board’s instructions, and the school was closed in accordance with the printed rules and regulations.

The Board seems now to have determined on the removal of our teacher., Mr A. Ross, for by the exercise of a little tyranny and injustice they soon compelled him to send in his resignation, and Mr C. Lee, our present teacher, was appointed in his place. As you are aware, we have not yet got a teacher’s residence, but we hope the Board will be able to erect one for us this year, as it is most unfair to teachers in small places like this, where they have to submit to so many inconveniences, to have no house provided or allowance in lieu thereof.

The Inspector attended on the 10th November, and carefully examined the school, one member of the committee being present.

Before breaking up for the Christmas holidays an examination was held by this committee, when prizes were awarded to the children who deserved them. We are glad to be able to report that the attendance is gradually increasing, as the following return of average attendance for the last three quarters will show. Average attendance for the quarter ending 30th June, 44; ditto quarter ending 30th September, 50; and for quarter ending 30th December, 56. So that now according to the Board’s printed rules and regulations, we are now entitled to a pupil teacher. But, unfortunately, just as our average attendance had increased to the requisite number, being 51 to entitle us to claim a pupil teacher, the Board altered the rule and increased the necessary average from 51 to 62. So that it is now quite impossible to say when we will get a pupil teacher, because when our average increases to 62, the Board may again think proper to alter their rule.

The land purchase account (for school site) does not show much improvement since last year. At that time a sum of £11 14s was due on it; during the past year that amount has only been decreased by £3, leaving a sum of £8 14s still due.

Māoriland: 2023 at a glance

Planning is in full swing at the Māoriland Hub with a full calendar of events for February and March The stand-out event is the Māoriland Film Festival (MFF) now one of the largest Indigenous film celebrations in the world

Māoriland celebrates its 10th birthday from March 15 - 19 with five days of short and feature-length dramas documentaries films for rangatahi industry events an exhibition of Indigenous creative tech, the NATIVE Minds lecture series and the Toi Matarau artists exhibition

The MFF2023 includes a significant programme of Indigenous films from global nations allowing local audiences to travel the world The MFF2023 programme is released on Waitangi Day with tickets available from February 9th These can be purchased in-person at the Māoriland Hub (68 Main Street Ōtaki) or online at www iticket co nz

Live music at the Māoriland Hub is back for 2023 with R&B sensation Sam V taking the stage on February 18 The 25-year-old Auckland singer-songwriter trajectory is accelerating after his triumph at the 2022 Pacific Music Awards for Best R&B/Soul Artist Sam V ’s gig is part of Māoriland Presents’ – a series of intimate live music sessions held at the Māoriland Hub where artists share kōrero about their craft Perfect for music lovers discoverers and fans experience Sam V wrapped in the incredible atmosphere of Māoriland

In the Toi Matarau Gallery there are beautiful works available to purchase in person or via the online store There are significant exhibitions this year with a senior Māori artists exhibition during MFF2023 and exhibitions planned for Matariki and, Te Ara Toi o Kāpiti (Kāpiti arts trail) as well as whakairo (carving) throughout the year by our Māoriland Artists in Residence Te Matatoki

Toi Matarau continues to look for new toi Māori talent, Pasifika and Indigenous artists, especially emerging artists of the next generation of te ao Māori ” Says Kaitiaki Toi, Maakarita Paku

Following a successful holiday programme in January, arts workshops and after-school classes are soon to commence for 2023 at the Māoriland Hub Supported by the Te Manatū Taonga, Ministry of Culture and Taonga these classes support a new generation of creatives

Media Muse

The Silly Season was already well under way when Stuff reported on Thursday 22 December that a Norwegian troll was about to bring mid-Canterbury back to the silver screen. A silly way of saying that a movie is being made in Methven, it was typical of the tosh published in the two months that the everexpanding occupational group including journalists, politicians, communications staff, public servants, consultants and assorted hacks and flacks now take for their summer hols. The start of the season keeps getting earlier. Last year ’s northward migration out of Wellington began on Friday 9 December. By midday, the holiday convoy of SUVs with kayaks strapped to the roof, bikes three-deep at the back, jetski assorted water toys and BBQ in the trailer, had come to a standstill at Pekapeka where four lanes of the first-world expressway merged into SH1’s third-world two-lane blacktop.

The season staggers to an end in the last week of January. MPs straggle back to their caucuses; public holidays celebrate anniversary days in Wellington and Auckland and, of course, Waitangi Day; Parliament finally cranks up for another year in mid-February.

So this occupational group, which can take extended leave without making any noticeable dent in national prodictivity, was still in beach and bach mode when the prime minister announced on Thursday 19 January her decision to quit after five years because, in her words, she no longer had “enough in the tank” to do the job justice.

Seizing on that phrase, political editors, pundits, bloggers and commentators of all hues scurried back to their studios and keyboards to dissect its meaning and implications. Radio New Zealand’s web page headlined a comment

By Manakau’s Tom Frewen

from the BBC’s Alice Cuddy (who she?):

“Jacinda Ardern’s burnout highlights the pressure world leaders face”. Almost totally reliant on observations from Helen Clark, Labour’s first female prime minister, on the physical and mental demands of the country’s highest office, Ms Cuddy wrote that it was “unusual for a politician to admit they are burnt out” although Ms Ardern had not said that she was, rather that she had no enthusiasm for committing to another three to four years as prime minister.

Helen Clark had told Ms Cuddy about working “a tremendous number of hours a day” for nine years, from 1999 to 2008. With a home in Auckland and an office in Wellington, same as for Ms Ardern, although she also had a young daughter, that often involved “a seven o’clock flight in the morning, so you might get up at five and then you might go to bed after midnight.

“On nights you stay in Wellington, you’re probably still going to be up at daybreak and then maybe working to the wee small hours.”

That was in the first decade of this century. In the second the pressure on leaders, already “immense” had increased “in the era of social media and the 24-hour news cycle and click bait and trolling and conspiracy theorists and the rest of it.”

Ms Adern agreed — in part. “The media cycle is constant; social media is constant,” she told Wendyl Nissen in her end-of-year interview for the New Zealand edition of the Australian Women’s Weekly.

In this context, “social media”, spawn of the internet, ranges from Twitter through TikTok and enables anyone with a mobile phone to comunicate via text and video. Political parties seized on social media around 2016 as a new

and more flexible way of engaging the attention of voters. Now politicians and their parties have armies of comms people maintaining their social media accounts.

But “social media” also have a sinister side which mainstream media exploit in two ways: for virtue signalling — “you can trust us” — and for content for their news bulletins. Like anything on the internet, you only find what you’re looking for. Social media trolls, nutters and bile merchants make for dramatic click bait. Mainstream journalists search them out. But do we really care what Elon Musk does with Twitter?

Directly addressing those commentators who claimed social media had driven the prime minister from office — prominent among them Alison Mau in the Sunday Star Times which headlined her January 22 column “Shame on our misogyny” — Ms Ardern said: "There's been a little bit of discussion since I made my announcement about my resignation. For my part, I want you to know that my overwhelming experience in this job - of New Zealand and New Zealanders, has been one of love, empathy and kindness.”

Commendable and desirable as those qualities are, they butter no parsnips for journalists like Ms Mau who earn their living by filtering issues through prejudices and opinions that conform to those of their editors and publishers. Wellington journalist, David Cohen, an NBR columnist who specialised in the politics of academia and media and is now reduced to editing recipe books for RNZ, dismissed the “doe-eyed premier’s reputation for ‘compassionate’ management and natural empathy” as part of her “tattered legacy” in the sneer-and-smear Australian commentary section of the English political weekly, The Spectator. Commentators who claimed that the prime minister had her eye on a United Nations job, a la Helen Clark, obviously had not heard her say:. “I know there will be much discussion in the aftermath of this decision as to what the so-called real reason was. I can tell you that

what I'm sharing today is it. The only interesting angle that you will find is that after going on six years of some big challenges, I am human. Politicians are human. We give all that we can for as long as we can, and then it's time.”

Then a rare thing — she said she wanted to spend more time with her family and actually meant it, unlike so many departing CEOs and politicians like her former broadcasting minister, Kris Faafoi, who was back within weeks as a lobbyist keen to exploit his experience as a cabinet minister.

‘I’m looking forward to spending time with my family once again,” she said. “Arguably they're the ones that have sacrificed the most out of all of us. And so to Neve, Mum is looking forward to being there when you start school this year. And to Clark, let's finally get married.”

In her end-of-year “sit down” interview with the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, also written by Wendyl Nissen under the cover line “WHY FAMILY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER” she said “The only thing I think consistently about is just being a mum and how I make sure that I’m there when Neve is in her teens.”

And if she does want to rejoin the workforce, the only reference she will ever need was provided by her Australian Labor counterpart, Anthony “Albo” Albanese.

“Through the sheer power of her example,” he wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald, “Jacinda Ardern has reminded us all that kindness and strength are not mutually exclusive. Even more importantly, she has shown that a true leader possesses both.

“It has been a privilege to work closely with Jacinda during her term as Prime Minister of New Zealand, and to witness the many qualities she brought to the role: empathy and insight, intellect and decisiveness; a powerful work ethic matched by a great polcy brain; a lightness of touch backed by a firm hand.”

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 Centres.

Darren Edwards Chief Executive

Handy folk to know

ŌTAKI Secure Storage

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Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm

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Good/Used clothing for sale

Baby clothing $1

Children’s clothing $2

Adult clothing $4 (or as priced)

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.

For all Kerbing, Paving, Floors, Drives, Paths and Concrete Work FREE QUOTES

Phone Nathan Howell 027 554 0003

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

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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

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After hours: 06 364 2070

Hartley Electrical Contracting Ltd

Mobile: 021 418 751

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General electrical contractors for all your electrical requirements

Otaki

Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving

BY NIKKI LUNDIE

Happy New Year from us all at the Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club! We hope that 2023 sees all of our readers and their whānau enjoying many happy, sunny and safe hours at the beach.

It’s been a cracker of a season so far! Our lifeguards, patrol support and rookies have been doing a sterling job on patrol. Thanks to their experience, knowledge and vigilance, we have no major incidences to report. Out of a total 628 hours of patrolling (at the time of writing) our lifeguards have been involved in:

• 3 successful rescues;

• 10 people requiring assistance;

• 5 minor first-aid incidents;

• 1 search conducted; and

• 108 preventative actions.

We are very proud of the fact that our patrol teams responded quickly and effectively during all three rescues, which made for very successful outcomes. Most of the time it’s simply about people getting into a bit of trouble out there and requiring assistance to get back to shore safely. We’re either responding to an incident that we see unfold during patrol, or our call-out squad receives a call that requires us to spring into action and get our rescue craft into the water ASAP.

In other news, we have a number of clubbies competing around the region this summer. These competitions include a Junior Surf Carnival in Riversdale; Eastern

Regional Champs at Mount Maunganui; and Central Regional Champs in Taranaki. These carnivals are what some of our clubbies train all year for. Conditions vary, the competition is tough, but good times are had by all. Nipper beach-training has once again resumed. If you have a child that can swim confidently on their own and is aged between 7 and 13, please feel free to contact our Nipper coaches on 021 775 432, or otakinippers@gmail. com.

The focus for our nippers program is FUN, making friends and building surf awareness.

With this gorgeous weather there’s still plenty of time to get down to the beach and enjoy a swim between the flags. Our last weekend of patrol this season is the first weekend in March. See you there!!

Fire Brigade sets new record

BY FRANK NEILL

The Ōtaki Fire Brigade set a new record for call outs in 2022. The new record now stands at 292 calls – a 23% increase on 2021. The new record compares with the previous busiest year, during the early 2000s, when the brigade received 260 calls.

Two major storms contributed to the previous record of 260, with the storms generating a couple of very busy days on each occasion.

No particular reason stood out for the high number of calls the brigade received last year, Ōtaki’s Chief Fire Officer Ian King says.

“I’m guessing people are thinking that the Fire Brigade is the answer to all their problems.

“We have also had a number of calls from people travelling down the highway saying that they have seen smoke.”

The presence of smoke in rural areas did not usually mean there was a fire the brigade needed to attend, as burning was a part of rural management.

“Traditionally over the past 10 years we have had 230 to 240 calls,” Mr King says

When asked what the brigade’s highlights for 2022 were, Mr King referred to a “good save” when the brigade was called to a blaze in Levin on 11 September. After fire broke out at the Levin Container Rubbish building on Oxford Street around 6am, the Ōtaki brigade was called as a back up. The blaze completely destroyed the rubbish depot. The fire spread to the roof area of the next door building, home to O’Malleys Bar.

“We recognised that the fire had spread into the roof of O’Malleys and we managed to force our way into the bar and put the fire out – to the extent that they [O’Malleys] were able to use the bar that afternoon.

“We saved the building and saved the business.” Being involved in a save like that “is always good,” Mr King says.

“You get a bit of a buzz out of a good save. The crew feels quite good when they nip something in the bud.” The brigade attended 29 calls during December. Six calls were for rubbish, grass and scrub fires, and there were three property fires.

There were three medical calls, five calls to motor vehicle accidents, and two “good intent” calls. A “good intent” call is where callers report an emergency but when the brigade arrives it finds that it is not. Private fire alarms activating resulted in two call outs and the brigade attended six “special services” calls. Special services are events not fitting the above categories, such as helicopter landings and lines down.

Second combined race day at Ōtaki–Māori Racing Club

BY MARGARET ANDREWS

A new year and the second Kāpiti Harness Racing Club and Ōtaki–Māori Racing Club’s combined race day was held at the Ōtaki–Māori Race Course, Wednesday 4 January, on a bright sunny day, with good crowds in attendance.

Harness racing lead the day with six races on the card for the morning. The top two events – the Grant Plumbing Wellington Cup Handicap Trot and the Assess It Ōtaki Cup Handicap Pace cups – were both heading south to Christchurch. For Canterbury trainer, Michael House it was a “great trip.” He brought nine horses to harness race days in Tauherenikau, Wairarapa, and Ōtaki and took

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home several winners and three cups. Santanna Mach was the star, winning the Wairarapa Cup at Tauherenikau on the Monday and the Ōtaki Cup two days later. Break Free sped past the post, winning the Wellington Cup at Ōtaki.

The Ōtaki–Māori Racing Club’s events took over the track for the afternoon with a full card of eight races. The family-friendly race day included activities for children: bouncy castles, face painting, and a variety of races out on the race track between horse races. The food and ice-cream vendors did a roaring trade as the day’s temperature heated up.

below: Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving patrol, Christmas 2022