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The Peninsula Post 27 September 2012
Lesley Preece
Mercury Bay Library Find it, eat it: cooking foraged food gathered around New Zealand Michael Daly (2012)
From gourmet chefs to raw food enthusiasts, foraging is back in fashion! Discover the abundance of edible food that may be gathered around New Zealand – tasty, nutritious food can be found growing wild in fields, parks, on riverbanks in the sea, and even in your own backyard. These foods are beneficial to your health and will add delicious flavour and interest to any meal. Honeysuckle sorbet, anyone? We all know about wild foods such as mushrooms, blackberries and oysters, but what about Totara berries, pinenuts or chick weed? Broken into five main sections revealing edible weeks, food from the field, the tree, from the seashore and foods for the pantry, naturally this book also includes some traditional Maori foods. For me, the highlight of this book is not the recipes - some of which are quite flaky – but the wealth of information found in the ‘identification’ section of each chapter. Colour photographs distinguish each food, while very detailed guidelines highlight identification, locations, use, and the care that must be taken when gathering wild foods. I’m not sure why I find the idea of eating those pesky weeds so appealing, but I don’t think I’m alone…
Stag Spooner: wild man from the bush Chris Maclean (2012)
Stag Spooner (1917-1946) was a government deer culler in 1939 and 1940, initially in the Tararua ranges of the lower North Island, and then in the Whitcombe Valley on the South Island’s West Coast. His successful career as a culler was cut short by the Second World War, but he did leave behind a remarkable legacy from this period, a vividly illustrated diary of his experiences that he entitled Those Wild Men from the Bush. The diary, which forms the heart of this book, is a fascinating chronicle of the life of a professional hunter. Stag Spooner went on to create another highly individual body of art during the war, a series of decorated envelopes that were sent back to his family and friends. In this book Chris Maclean brings to light Stag’s singular body of artwork, while also telling the story of his adventurous life, which tragically ended on a hunting trip, alone, in the Fiordland mountains shortly after the war. A totally unique book that recognises the life and world of a remarkable hunter and artist – and celebrates an exceptionally New Zealand way of life. LIBRARY HOURS Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9.30am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 12pm
Whaaea Jo Kaaho
MBAS Board of Trustees Lots of colour and hilarity in Spirit Week Kia ora tatau katoa! Greetings, everyone At the time of writing this report it is Week 8 and what a busy month this has been. Some of our Yr 11 – 12 students attended the Outdoor Education winter trip for two weeks from August 13 to August 24. Lots of memories to share and a special thanks to Mr Battaerd and supporting staff and parents who helped make this possible. TVPS Cross country was held on Wednesday, August 29 at the Waterways. Congratulations to all students who participated on the day. A huge thank you and acknowledgement should go to Sande Mareroa-Gates for
all the hard work and effort that you have contributed over the last few months as our Sports Co-ordinator. Special acknowledgement to Paige Luff who came third at the Waikato Full Primary Schools Cross Country. On September 4 a Whānau meeting was held in the whare. This was attended by three members of the Hauraki Māori Trust Board, members of our staff and community. Our focus was to discuss the achievement
of Māori students through Manaakitanga - offering guidance and support. We can do this by respecting what our tauira (students) have to say. Next meeting to be discussed and information sent out accordingly. Thanks must go to those people who attended the meeting. There was lots of colour, hilarity, and banter amongst staff and students during Spirit Week. A lot of time and effort went into the Superhero costumes which some of you may have seen on the way to school. Nominations for student and staff reps have now closed. Results to be published. Otira! I look forward to next time! Naku noa Whaea Jo Kaaho BOT Māori Representative
Marine reserve exploration made easier Equipping students to explore Te Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve has become easier with the donation of a purpose-built trailer. Pub Charity has given the Friends of Te Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve Trust $9433.40 for the trailer, which will be used to transport snorkelling gear for the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme in the Hauraki/Coromandel District. Up until now, the programme coordinator has had to carry
the gear in his car. Having a trailer will mean he will be able to be more efficient and spend less time loading, unloading and organising equipment and more time providing the programme. The trust still needs to raise about $900 for signwriting on the trailer. The marine reserves programme aims to provide quality education opportunities, increasing awareness and encouraging action and support for marine conservation in New
Zealand. The programme in Hauraki is under the umbrella of the trust. Schools participating in the programme so far include Mercury Bay Area, Colville, Tapu, Whangamata Area, Parawai and Te Puru. Next year Whenuakite, Tairua and Moanataiari Schools will explore the reserve. The trust is continuing to raise funds for other projects within the reserve and Cathedral Cove.
TCDC crackdown on unregistered dogs More than 520 dogs previously registered in the Coromandel Peninsula have not been re-registered this year. Thames-Coromandel District Council’s compliance team will soon begin visiting owners known to have kept registered dogs in the past, but who have not reregistered them this year. The team will begin by focusing on owners with dangerous or anti-social dogs. The crackdown follows overdue and reminder letters being sent to owners. Dog registrations are due by 30 June every year.
The Dog Control Act 1996 requires all dogs over the age of three months to be registered annually. Acting regulations manager Marion Smith says some dogs may have died, or their owners may have moved out of the district but she suspects most people just simply haven’t registered their dog. “Owners with unregistered dogs will be asked to pay and in some instances we will fine the owner or seize the dog until the registration is paid.” Mayor Glenn Leach says responsible dog owners are
propping up the people who refuse to pay and that’s not on. “Unfortunately our team have been forced to take this action to ensure the safety of our communities because we know that many of the unregistered animals are also the dangerous ones or the animals most likely to be at the centre of a complaint to our staff.” The SPCA help the council manage any seized dogs at the pound. This year, so far, there are 3641 registered dogs on the peninsula.
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