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We celebrate the opening of Pukana

We hurried from Aratoi’s main door around the corner into Dixon St to join the crowd waiting at the waharoa. We had been busily preparing for the refreshments to be served after Pūkana’s opening ceremony. We knew we would be joining the back of the crowd, but we were surprised by the number of people in front of us in the small courtyard, over 200 at least, and all ages: a sleeping weeks-old baby in her carry capsule, rangatahi and those somewhat older.

Jo Torr, registrar at Aratoi, along with Susanna Shadbolt, the director, developed the National Library’s exhibition that had already been devised by three curators from the Alexander Turnbull Library.

“We decided to augment the mainly paper-based Pūkana with objects from Aratoi’s collection and some items borrowed from other museums such as Te Papa,” Jo said, ‘so our first step was to make loan requests six months or more before the exhibition opened in Masterton.”

Aratoi opening of Pukana, led by rangatira Mike Kawana and Te Korou Whangataua with Shane James playing the pukaea. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The work continued through that six months, including overseeing the design, as Aratoi, being a small museum and gallery, has no spatial designers. In May, the exhibition was hung, two weeks before the opening.

As the sky above the courtyard darkened, the crowd hushed as kaumātua Mike Kawana, leading us on the journey through the gallery, punctured the silence with his blessing of the taonga. This was accompanied by the strident sound of a pūkāea, played by Shane James from Te Papa.

Speeches of welcome and thanks show the range of people who had contributed to this opening. Among those thanked by Susanna Shadbolt were the staff of the Alexander Turnbull Library and Aratoi, Aratoi’s sponsors, particularly Forsyth Barr as the opening event sponsors, and those, including Masterton District Creative Communities and REAP Wairarapa, whose support has meant that workshops and events will enhance the exhibition.

She concluded by thanking our two iwi, “with a special thank you to Mike Kawana, Haami Te Whaiti and Makuini Kerehi for all their hard mahi.”

“In addition, she said, “Mike has also composed a waiata and gifted it to Aratoi for this occasion.” The Aratoi staff then proudly sang it.

Te Kura Kaupapa o Wairarapa Kapa Haka group’s performance during the evening was a highlight. They continued their performance in the gallery after the official part of the evening, as the crowd mingled in the gallery to have a closer look at the taonga.

As the formalities concluded, we, Friends of Aratoi committee members, the ringawera for the evening, dashed off to make our small contribution to the celebration of Pūkana, an exhibition that has been made possible by the mahi of so many.

Pūkana: Te Karu o te Ika - Moments in Māori performance is on display at Aratoi until August 22.

Thank you, Ro Worley

It was a surprise and a delight to be told that Ro Worley, one of Aratoi’s long-term supporters and often to be seen lunching in Entice Café with her friends, had left us a generous bequest in her will.

Ro [Rosemary] was born in Auckland in 1932 and moved to Wairarapa when she married John Worley. They farmed at Otahome, near Whareama on the coast, for many years before retiring to Little Otahome at Homebush where Ro designed and planted a spectacular garden, scene of many garden tours.

She taught home economics at St Matthews Collegiate and had a décor shop in Centrepoint for a time.

It would not have been possible to establish a regional museum like Aratoi without the support of people like Ro. She was very interested in the arts and for many years attended exhibition openings and floor talks at Aratoi, often with her closest friend, Helen Dashfield. Aratoi is lucky to have a very active and loyal Friends Association, who, like Ro, donate time and energy to fundraising and volunteer help. We at Aratoi are profoundly grateful for these acts of generosity.

We plan to apply Ro’s generous gift to our education programme and to our new initiative of installing solar panels for long term energy sustainability. Ro’s name will be permanently commemorated as one of these donors.

Ro Worley. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

DON’T LET DOG REGO FEES CREEP UP AND BITE YOU DUE 30 JUNE

Pay by 30 June and your dog could win a refund of its fee. Talk to one of our Animal Services team now about payment options - call 06 370 6300 or email animalservices@mstn.govt.nz

June UPDATE

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Despite 1 June being the first day of winter, you would be forgiven for thinking it was still autumn – these early days of June have been relatively cooler, yet sunny and still. I hope you’re making the most of it while you can. Not everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand has fared the same - our thoughts are with the people of Canterbury, many of whom were affected by the slow-moving storm that passed through in the first week of June. Kia kaha! Locally, we have just completed a rather intense period of consultation with South Wairarapa residents, reading and hearing nearly a thousand submissions to the Long Term and Spatial Plans. Council deliberation took 3 days and we have now agreed our priorities. Budgets are being calculated and once complete, it will be audited, after which we can communicate the plan and the rate settings for the next 12 months. Thank you again for taking the time to let us know what you think about the plans. Our challenges are many despite being a small region, and we have to walk a fine balance meeting essential community needs, infrastructure upgrades and the cost to the public. By the time you read this we would have also commemorated the Battle of Messines with Featherston’s sister city Messines in Belgium. Although our efforts liberated Messines, 7-9 June 1917 was a particularly dark moment in New Zealand’s history as we suffered 3700 casualties of whom 700 were killed – lest we forget. Greytown is hosting the austral Festival of Christmas through July - with spectacular lighting displays South Wairarapa urban rubbish and recycling along Main Street, interactive family activities, night markets, Matariki, Christmas parties, and DOG REGISTRATIONcalendar 2021/22 more. There are over 30 events Dog registrations are now due. All dogs aged 3 and 40 workshops to choose months or older must be registered by from. Featherston also has Matariki celebrations planned. We are spoilt for choice! I hope you will make time to enjoy these fun series of events Put out rubbish bags + wheelie bin on week 1 red weeks 31 July 2021. If you have received an invoice and there are no changes to your dog’s details, you can pay for it online on our website. You can also pay for any new and existing dogs at Featherston and Greytown Libraries, or at our Martinborough Office. It is a quick and easy + Put out ru crates on Key blue weeks bbish bags + and activities – I for one am process, but if you have any questions, please looking forward to them! call us on 06 306 9611. Stay safe and healthy. Ngā mihi URBAN RECYCLING (Your bin sticker tells you which day of the week.) Alex Beijen Public holiday / no collection CALENDAR Collections a day later than usual MAYOR The 2021/22 urban recycling calendar is now available on the Council’s website.

The Innovating Streets project is in the final planning stage. Innovating Streets Martinborough is a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency funded programme. This is a temporary installation designed to improve safety and accessibility for a broader spectrum of the public. We heard through our feedback process that residents love their Square – we do too! Similar installations around the country have shown a myriad of direct and indirect positive effects, particularly for young people. Yes, it’s change. Yes, it’s modern thinking in a classical setting, but the Wairarapa is changing and needs to remain relevant to traditional and new thinking. Preparing and

MAY 2021

being open to change, particularly those that improve spaces for the next generation, will improve the town’s resilience in the long term. Over the past month Martinborough-based Ventana Collective have engaged and inspired local school children to assist with the design work. Local artist Andy Shaw has incorporated the children’s artworks into three fantastic designs for the road works. The community with local builders, The Johnson Brothers, on construction of the raised platforms that will provide both safety barriers for the space, encourage traffic calming around the Square and provide will then vote to decide which of the three will be the final road design! AUGUST 2021 attractive areas to rest, enjoy and reimagine the space. Right now these designs This installation will m t w t f s s are being cross checked temporarily transform for their appropriateness 1 the area into a and safety and will be made public very soon. destination zone, not just a car thoroughfare, 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Please keep an eye on our website or Facebook providing important passive safety measures 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 page for updates and the voting schedule. The winning design will and traffic calming effects. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 be painted on the road For more information on for the duration of the 30 31 the project, including the installation. installation and artwork Meanwhile Boffa Miskell NOVEMBER 2021 designs to vote on, visit have finalised building www.swdc.govt.nz/m t w t f s s plans and are working innovating-streets.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 4 5 6

WATER METER READING IN JUNE

Water meter reading is currently underway. Invoices for 2020-2021 will be going out in July. If you receive a water bill and you have had a leak during the year that has now been repaired, you may be eligible for a waiver. Remember the homeowner is responsible for keeping the water meter accessible. Please contact the Council on water@swdc.govt.nz or call us on 06 306 9611 ext. 874 to discuss should you have any enquiries.

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CHEQUES NO LONGER VALID FROM 30 JUNE 2021 SEPTEMBER 2021

South Wairarapa District Council can no longer accept cheques from 30 June 2021. If you wish to make a payment, there are several options available to you – automatic payments, direct debits, and internet banking for account-to-account transfers are some of the online options. You can also visit our offices in Martinborough, and the Featherston and Greytown libraries to pay by EFTPOS or cash. If you would like help learning how to use internet or mobile banking, consider a workshop with Digital Seniors, a trust set up in the Wairarapa to support seniors with technology. They have the following weekly sessions: DECEMBER 2021 • Greytown Library on Tuesdays from 1:30 till 3:30 • Featherston Union Church on Thursdays from 1:30 till 3:30 • Martinborough St Andrews’ Church on

Thursdays from 9:30 till 11:30 They can also be reached at 0800 373 646 or online at digitalseniors.co.nz/seniors/

WE ARE NOW ON INSTAGRAM! Normal collecti Follow us @swdcon: 27 th & 28 th Dec