lonely planet lauds otaki kite...

PO Box 109 Otaki [email protected] 06 364 5500 www.Otakimail.co.nz 28 March 2014

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SUMMER SALE

By MARGARET ANDREWSThe Otaki Kite Festival was

another huge success and drew 12,000 people to Otaki Beach over the three days, many bringing their own kites and others to watch the wide variety of kites from around New Zealand and overseas.

While the wind, so essential to fly kites, wasn’t overly cooperative on the Saturday morning, by afternoon the steady breeze saw the gigantic sperm whale take to the skies and when viewed from up near the pavilion, it appeared to be above the sand dunes and flying off over Kapiti Island! Sunday’s flying was also held in near-perfect conditions.

“I think it was a great success to see so many family groups down on the beach, enjoying the kites and enjoying time together,”said Barbara Franks, Otaki Village Promotions Group’s (OVPG) festival organiser. “Sunday’s weather was perfect for flying. Certainly the kite fliers with us are keen to be involved next year.”

Saturday saw the first round of the inaugural Rokkuka Business House Kite Fighting Challenge with nine local businesses competing over the two days to find the champion. The kite

“handlers” were restricted to space and height allowed, but could move around as they endeavoured to cross the opposition kite strings to bring them down, while keeping their own kite flying. As this sport grows and the operators become

more skilful, the kite battles will be even more challenging and a draw card for this annual festival. The champion team and “best battlers” over the weekend was the ANZ’s team, with Riverbank Engineering a close runner-up and Marlan Trading third. All the teams have indicated they’ll return next year, with several other firms showing strong interest.

The Rokkuka kites were made by Otaki kite maker, Yvonne de Mille and were of identical materials, with the business’ name on them. The challengers were given just one lesson on kite fighting techniques before the competition began.

There were many, many kites of all shapes, sizes and styles, flying above the dunes. Visitors saw the return of the huge sand bouncer puffer fish, which at one stage on Saturday afternoon got about two metres off the beach. Conditions were “just right” for the whale as it drifted upwards on its long

bridle (string), chasing the bright yellow octopus which was chasing a huge red love heart – all on the same bridle which was anchored to a tractor, on the beach! The bright orange crab and the string of 60-70 pennant flags which stayed aloft all day were back too.

One new anchored kite was a fluttering seagull, which appeared to hover just above the crowd, sometimes gliding and at others giving its wings a flap! It looked very realistic and fooled many into believing it was one of the local beach residents!

Ex-pat Kiwi, Tony Rice from Brisbane, Australia, brought several of his kites to the festival. All his kites are original and the designs are painted on, not sewn. Being an environmentalist, his sun kite is made from several layers of cellophane paper, with a painted design. He managed to get this one flying again during the afternoon, after the morning flight was cut short when the wind dropped.

Lonely Planet Lauds Otaki Kite Festival

Has Otaki Beach ever seen such a crowd?

Wendy BaileyFormer editor of the

Otaki Mail died February 28th, after a long illness.

For a decade she gave us stories of our town and its

community. Her paper celebrated

Otaki.

Jed Brophyin punchup

Page 9

Shave for a cure

Page 20

Page: 2 Otaki Mail - 28 March 2014

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PB 60601 Paraparaumu | Ph 04 296 4700 | Fx 04 296 4830 | www.kapiticoast.govt.nz

1. Cancellation - Meetings are sometimes cancelled for a variety of reasons. To confirm whether a meeting is on, please ring the Democratic Services Advisor on 04 296 4700 or toll free 0800 486 486.

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Attendance at meetings

Pat DoughertyChief Executive

Tuesday1

AprilParaparaumu/Raumati Community Board

7.00 pm

Kapiti Community Centre, 15 Ngahina Street, Paraparaumu

Thursday 3 April

Grants Allocation Subcom-mittee (Districtwide Hall Hire Remissions)

9.00 am

Council Chambers Ground Floor 175 Rimu Road Paraparaumu

Thursday 3 April

Grants Allocation Subcom-mittee (Creative Communi-ties New Zealand)

9.30 am


Tuesday 8 April

Ōtaki Community Board (additional meeting)

7.00 pm

Gertrude Atmore Supper Room, Memorial Hall, Main Street, Ōtaki

Thursday 10 April

Regulatory Management Committee

9.00 am


Tuesday 15 April Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti 10.00

am


Thursday 17 April Council Meeting 10.00

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Tuesday 29 April Ōtaki Community Board 7.00

pm

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continued from P1

In July, Tony will be going to an “enormous” kite festival in Bali, where they have some of the biggest traditional kites the world.

“It’s lovely being here, I’m really loving it,” he said.

There were 16 visiting kite enthusiasts, from as far away as Auckland to Ashburton, and places in between, including Hamilton’s Marcel Le Grande, who brought three of his stunt kites to add to the action, and Otaki’s kite makers, Yvonne de Mille and Hamish McIntyre.

There were few entries in the kite making competitions; the White family from Hawera, came back to Otaki for this year’s festival and took home several of the prizes on offer. Daughter Alex aged nine, took home the prize for best kite from recycled materials in the under 10 group, and overall best kite, while 12 year old brother, Caleb took the prize for best homemade kite in the 11 and over group. Five year old Zoe Royal, Jordy and Ruby Thompson and Maggie Braddock all took home prizes in the recycled kite junior section and Paige Housiaux, aged seven the junior homemade kite prize. Kapiti Mayor, Ross Church and Otaki ward councillor, Penny Gaylor presented prizes in the

homemade kite section and festival organiser, Barbara Franks presented the prizes for kites from recycled materials. Alex and Caleb won the Otaki Mail prizes in their categories. All the prizes

were donated by businesses in the wider Otaki area.

“The stall part was just right,” Ms Franks said. “They all did pretty well. There were several

local groups fund raising and the food stalls were kept extremely busy.”

She complemented the “terrific collaboration” between the Otaki Village Promotion Group and Otaki Surf Club and the other groups who assisted during the day, the Otaki Community Patrol, Waitohu Stream Care Group, Rotary Club of Otaki, Otaki MenzShed, Waitohu School Home & School Association, Green Party and the many, many volunteers throughout the weekend.

Friday afternoon before the festival was officially underway, was the schools’ session, when children from Otaki, Waitohu and St Peter Chanel schools took the opportunity to go to the beach with the kites they had made during kite workshops at their school. A group from Westmount School in Palmerston North came for the day, bringing ready-made kites with them, but went back enthused to make their own next year.

The multi-a w a r d

winning Fuse Acrobatic Circus performance brought the day to a close on Saturday and Sunday, with their Campground Chaos show. The six circus performers’ hair-raising antics kept the 2000 plus people, who were packed into the grassed area in front of the pavilion and round the its upper level, entranced with their

antics from tumbling and juggling to high rope performances – including a midair barbecue, complete with a picnic table strung above the stage!

With interest in the festival growing, many kite fliers have already marked the second weekend in March 2015 into their diaries.

The beached whale arises

Brisbane's Tony Rice launches his kite

The parrot tries to escape the tentacles of the octopus chasing it! These were just a couple of the masses of kites, big and small.

Page: 3Otaki Mail - 28 March 2014

18 DAYS OF LUXURY & ADVENTURE – July 2014Fully escorted by Pam Hardy of United TravelExperienced Tour Leader - Small Group – Strictly Limited

* Johannesburg * Ngala Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park * Victoria Falls ** Chobe National Park * Sandibe & Xaranna Lodges, Okavango Delta * Cape Town

Contact Pam today for a chat – 06 3678394 email: [email protected]

Otaki Village Promotions Group and their supporters for a superb Kite Festival

Otaki Community Patrol for changing Aunty Hira's puncture

KCDC for the excellent exercise track in Haruatai Park

VIVIENNE BAILEY

Frances Hodgkins in Kapiti: The Field Collection showcases and celebrates New Zealand’s most famous expatriate artist and her connection to our Kapiti area. Currently exhibiting at Waikanae’s Mahara Gallery as part of the New Zealand Festival 2014, it includes a collection of 44 artworks, with 24 by Frances Hodgkins. It also features the work of her sister, Isabel, their father, William Matthew, and other artistic contemporaries such as Petrus Van Der Velden.

The exhibition has attracted more than1300 people in the first week of opening, “a terrific public response,” said gallery director, Janet Bayly.

Although only the second time the collection has been available

for public viewing, the Field Collection Trust has offered the collection (presently held by the Field family) to the gallery for permanent display, once planned museum standard facilities have been reached. The redevelopment will triple the gallery’s current size, and Mahara Trust Board Chairman, John Mowbray, said Frances Hodgkins in Kapiti will illustrate what an asset an upgraded Mahara Gallery will be as a regional gallery.

“The Frances Hodgkins’ works among the 44 works are the largest collection outside the four main centres. The significance and potential of the Field Collection to Kapiti is not to be underestimated. It is a unique part of our cultural heritage, and deserves to become a visitor attraction in the greater Wellington region – this exhibition provides a rare opportunity to

view the collection.”The exhibition also includes

several events, including a walk to the Field family plot in Waikanae Cemetery (where Frances Hodgkins’ ashes are interred), followed by a talk by local writer and historian, Peter Trim. Mr Trim has recently released a publication on Peter Field, nephew of the artist, to support the current exhibition.

Director of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery and Frances Hodgkins’ curator, Avenal McKinnon will speak at the gallery on Sunday, 30 March, 2.00pm, entry free, and Te Papa curator, Rebecca Rice, will speak on Thursday, 10 April, 11.00am, entry free.

Frances Hodgkins in Kapiti: The Field Collection runs until Sunday, 20th April.

Festival exhibition at Mahara Gallery

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Otaki MailOld Port Douarnenez 1921, Courtesy of the Field Collection, Photograph Paddy Riley

Fluoridation -KCDC's viewKapiti Coast District Council has succeeded in getting a remit to the local government

conference to urge the government to amend the legislation so that the decision on fluoridation becomes one for government and not councils.

It has always been a thorny decision. Councillors are neither health professionals nor scientists and decisions on public health are rightly ones for governments to make. With the recent publicity from anti-fluoride groups and the decision of the courts it is time that government accepted its responsibility.

Mayor Ross Church says, as long as councils are involved, decision-making falls to lay people without scientific knowledge, who are open to being influenced by strong lobby groups. “We believe the appropriate government agency should ultimately be responsible

for any decision associated with the use of fluoride in the public water supply. It’s hard to see any local government decision-making is needed in what is clearly a national health issue.

Water fluoridation is a public health intervention undertaken by water suppliers at their discretion. There is no regulation that requires the addition of fluoride to a water supply. The Ministry of Health (MoH) public information on water fluoridation states that: “Water fluoridation is a proven public health measure to reduce dental caries.”

Council says “As long as councils are left to deal with fluoride, they will continually come under pressure to review the policy and potentially have to spend ratepayers’ money fighting judicial reviews and legal responses to any decision they make.”


By VIVIENNE BAILEY

Local player off to Las VegasTe Horo-based Zach Shearman is

amongst ten Kapiti Coast basketballers selected for the New Zealand Basketball Academy’s Age Group Teams to tour Las Vegas, USA, in July this year. Although a relative newcomer to the sport of basketball (Zach represents his school, Kapiti College, as part of their Cricket First XI team), the thirteen year old has undergone five months of intensive trails, tournaments and training to achieve his selection in the under 14 team, competing with players from throughout New Zealand.

“I only started to play basketball last year, in year 9. I thought I would step outside my comfort zone and have a go at learning a new sport. I’ve really enjoyed the challenge – from the plays, lingo and rules to meeting people I hadn’t played against or with before.”

Zach believes the support given him from team members, coaches and support staff at Kapiti College, Kapiti Basketball Association and Kapiti Hoop Club, “and my Mum and Dad” had enabled him to succeed in his sporting dream.

“While I’ve had the opportunity to follow my sporting goals, I couldn’t have done so without the support from team mates, coaches, club committees, and the general public who have donated their time, skills and patience, helping get me and my team to every practise, tournament and trial around the community and country.”

To help raise the $4,200, which will be used for airfares, accommodation, food, transportation costs, tournament fees, insurance, uniforms, and so on, Zach and fellow players will be busy with sausage sizzles, car washes, cake stalls, selling

beanies and running quiz nights.Combined with the fundraising will be

rounds of intense training and further camps to prepare players for the succession of major tournaments in the USA.

For further information, or if you would like to help with Zach’s fundraising efforts, contact Jacqui Shearman, 027 4488964 or [email protected] picnic delights

Te Horo’s old hall may have reached 100 years but she still manages to pull the crowds. More than 70 people enjoyed “a good old fashioned fun day” recently to celebrate the hall’s centenary. The expected cyclone made a non-appearance, so it was full-on to the events of the day, which included various displays of strength and determination - a mayoral tug of war, “won by a gang of school children,” sack races, three-legged races, potato and spoon and sack races, with teams from Derham Road battling it out with the Sand Hillbillies for supreme champion in a tug of war.

Long-time resident, Joe Walker, presented the Sand Hillbillies with their prize.

“Joe’s possibly Te Horo’s longest serving resident – he’s lived in the village for 85 years,” said organiser Sharon Hurst, adding “But the ladies were not outdone. Teams fought hard in the most evenly matched contest of the day, until the hall ladies dragged their opposition over the line – it was great entertainment for all those watching.”

A further highlight was the presentation of his chains of office by Kapiti mayor, Ross Church, to Janet Robertson, in an enactment of her own time as Te Horo’s elected mayor, in 1990, as part of fundraising for the hall.

Throughout the balmy day picnickers were entertained by the musical sounds of bands, Swamp Dixie and Denny & the

Dynamoes.“We had juke box hits from the 60s,

70s and 80s all afternoon – the bands were fabulous and brought a real party atmosphere to the day.”

It was a day of simple country fun, all free, and Ms Hurst said “it was the generosity

of all involved, who gave their time for nothing, that made the event so successful.”

Each month, through to October, Te Horo Hall will host a celebratory event, “every Te Horo household should have received a Centenary Calendar of Events in their letterbox.” The next event is on Sunday, 6th April, ‘Storytelling and Silent Movie,’ 4.30pm to 6.30pm.Te Horo fundraiser

A Band Together Rebuild fundraiser is planned for Saturday, March 29, 7.00pm, at Te Horo Hall, to help local resident, Anna Stubbs, whose home was destroyed by fire late last year. Organiser, Debbie Laing, a neighbour of Miss Stubbs, said the public could help by donating items for the evening’s silent auction.

“We’ll have live music from Swamp Dixie and friends and Hatrack, as well as

food and drink options,” said Mrs Laing.Tickets are $25, available from Farmlands,

Otaki, Te Horo Café, The Achievement Room, Waikanae, and Professionals Real Estate in Paraparaumu.Te Horo Country Market

Two great new stalls join the range of

plants, produce and crafts at Te Horo’s regular market on Sunday, 6 April, 10.00am to 12.30pm, Te Horo Hall. You’ll be able to find a selection of pre-loved books (at very reasonable prices) and a variety of recycled garden implements, tools and kitchenware.

“On this stall we will sell on your behalf. Just bring along your item and when it sells, you’ll receive 80% of the selling price.”Craft Circle

Join fellow crafters at Te Horo Hall, Wednesday, 9 April, from 10.00am. No membership needed, just enjoy a coffee and chat while crafting.Drinks and Nibbles

Catch a bit of autumn sun and reconnect with your neighbours on Friday, 4 April, 5.30pm at Te Horo Hall. Bring a plate of finger food to share and a drink for yourself.

By VIVIENNE BAILEY

Although Selwyn (Selly) Hyde’s museum no longer attracts history-seeking visitors, its absence is softened by the cluster of quirky shops and the presence of Te Horo Café, where you can buy an excellent coffee and sample one of their delicious cheese gems.

Selwyn and his wife, Ngaire, started their iconic museum in 1985, and displays featured an enormous range of old things, from cars to firefighting gear, washing machines to toys, homewares to lawnmowers, shearing machines and even a sausage filler. The rear of the museum was given over to a mid-last century hair salon, cobblers’ gear, and a Kiwiana kitchen with vintage fridge, coal range and a 1990s safe. Visitors could also find a replica tobacconist/barber shop, a grocery store and a children’s area crammed with toys, including a model railway.

When Selly died in September, 2012, he was described as “one of Kapiti’s founding

fathers,” and left a lifetime’s collection of memorabilia. The unique collection was auctioned off after his death, although families who had donated items over the years were also asked to come forward and claim their goods.

Today a range of shops, including Te Horo Garden Centre, beckon both locals and weary travellers. You can easily spend a happy half hour in Artscape, where you’ll find hand-crafted ceramics, quilts, hand knitted garments, patchwork and artwork. Chalk features a useful variety of near-new children’s and babywear, Cute has “all things gorgeous for girls,” and there’s Pixie Barbers, formerly based at Wellington’s Kirkaldie and Stains. The hairdresser is now Shine on Hair Design, and Blue Skies Art, naturally, is found in a sky-blue painted building, full of original art and with a focus on “natural, sustainable, recycled or local materials.”

Situated on a heritage corner of State Highway One and Te Horo Beach Road, The Hyde Park Shopping Centre is open from Wednesday till Sunday, 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Te Horo's Hyde Park


Penny Gaylor

Otaki's KCDCCouncillor

Grant Robertson

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08Congratulations to the

dedicated team of volunteers who worked on the Otaki Kite Festival; they put in a huge personal effort to give us a huge community event. Thank you so very much.

The Kite Festival was a fantastic spectacle. And it even featured in the Lonely Planet March issue. How’s that for an amazing endorsement. We are so the “It” town right now. Well I reckon we are.

And hot on the heels of that unique event, is the Maoriland Film Festival in our town. Best wishes to Libby Hakaraia for the inaugural film festival to run this weekend in various locations around Otaki.

Both events received some Council financial support, money well spent to create events for locals and to attract visitors in to our community who will then circulate some of their money in to local businesses such as eateries, accommodation, petrol stations and retail stores.

I also attended the Otaki showing of “Tom Crean” at the

Otaki Civic Theatre which is a one man play featuring in the Wellington International Arts Festival. I don’t profess to be in any way knowledgeable or qualified to offer a critique; but I know when I have been treated to an exceptional performance and I was captivated by the story which in true Irish storytelling fashion was hilarious. And I bet the packed theatre’s audience of 270 would agree.

So plenty of bouquets this month; but a big brick bat to the Greater Wellington Regional Council on their ‘revelation’ that all of a sudden the long hoped for electrification of rail to Otaki will now cost $115million.

This is a bolt out of the blue given that for years we’ve heard them talk about the numbers being in the range of $24-30 million.

I’m cynical therefore about this sudden, ginormous figure which puts it completely out of reach for our community. And I challenge the rationale for the inflated figure.

Cynically I say that the lower

figure was, to all of us, a level of funding that seemed a reasonable and achievable goal for the medium term planning. This new figure takes it completely out of reach.

Here’s two issues on which I challenge this suddenly arrived at $115 million; the cost of new train carriages and electricity upgrades.

More than a year ago Transpower Chief Executive, Dr Patrick Strange, was presenting a briefing at Council on another matter of interest. I took the opportunity of Dr Strange’s presence to ask him directly that “if electrification was to be extended to Otaki, as was hoped for by our community, would the current electricity supply have the available capacity?”

Mr Strange directly answered my question with a very plain speak answer that they had already upgraded to the level required for the extension of rail electrification. Asked and answered.

Secondly, GWRC’s position is that they would need to buy

new carriages for electrification to Otaki, which because of the travel time passengers would need toilets.

I distinctly remember attending a meeting 6 years ago when I was first elected on to the Otaki Community Board where the GWRC were presenting to KCDC about the new train carriages that were being made for the Waikanae extension.

Then Mayor Jenny Rowan challenged the poor decision of GWRC to commission carriages for an hour long journey that did not have toilet facilities, even on a single carriage, for commuters. Passengers didn't need toilets for an hour's journey, was the reply from GWRC!

So the issue was identified way back then, and surely the extra 10 minutes on to Otaki should not be any more problematic for what was GWRC’s original poor planning.

And yet again GWRC public transport planning is continuing to let down the Otaki community

EVERYTHING AND MORE!

19 Waitaheke Rd, TE HORO

Your easy rolling 1.9HA is in 4 watered paddocks plus the garden, that shelters and nurtures this superior modern home. With 4 good sized bedrooms and 3 living areas that flow on outdoors to the covered patio, this home is designed for elegant living. The ensuite/master bedroom is to die for, Italian fittings, laid back comfort, walk-in-wardrobe & lazy views. Did I mention the outdoor areas? 2 bay implement shed for boat or camper van. Quiet, sociable TE HORO cul-de-sac, handy to beach, Waikanae trains, shopping etc. The 'star' property of the month, be sure to inspect.Offers in the $800,00's will buy.

Deadline Sale, closing 1pm FRIDAY 11th APRIL 2014 (if not sold prior)

Home of the Month

In 2008, when the GFC first blighted our screens, the Reserve Bank moved quickly to cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) bringing it down in big steps to a concessionary rate that helped keep people in their homes, letting the air out of the property balloon slowly. Those with money in the bank missed out, but overall ‘stability’ and confidence was maintained, and very few borrowers were pushed to the wall, especially compared to 1987! It was the biggest property binge in history, the ‘fifth wave’ according to Elliot, but we in NZ have had very little pain, thanks to low interest rates..Now, The reserve Bank Governor has moved to raise rates and everyone is squealing! What about those who have saved and invested wisely over the years, and rely on the earnings on savings to have money for a few ‘luxuries’. Repricing money also helps allocate money to

its best and highest use, whether that be planting Manuka to produce more honey, building in Auckland where the house supply is low, or converting more land to dairy farms. Cheap money leads to excessive borrowing, for the wrong purposes, and eventual booms and busts. In my view, the Reserve bank Governor has moved at the right time, at the right level of increase, to dampen down over enthusiasm in Auckland and Christchurch. LVR’s have also helped hold back the over excited, while the supply of land and homes is increased in these areas.Fortunately, here in Otaki, we still have affordable homes for young people, and we are talking with many first home buyers who are now able to purchase using their Kiwisaver funds and the Government bonus. Stability helps those who plan ahead, save, then buy.

Stability, Key Reserve bank mantra!

Penny's Piece

By MARGARET ANDREWS

Otaki may not get electrification of the railway from Waikanae, but Greater Wellington Regional Council hasn’t totally wiped the probability of improved services to Otaki.

Regional councillors, chair Fran Wilde and Paul Swain, attended the Kapiti Coast District Council’s meeting at the beginning of March, with some staff members.

To extension of the 15 kilometres rail system to Otaki would involve 175 km of overhead wires, two new substations and four-car trains costing between $60-80million for either electric or diesel; with the extra infrastructure required, this would push the bill to $100million.

“The focus shouldn’t be on extending electrification to Otaki, but on how you actually extend it,” regional council’s operation manager, Angus Gabara told the meeting. What they could look at was diesel powered Matangi style units, as well as standard locomotives pulling carriages. These could be part of a super-express train service going all the way into Wellington or return from Waikanae or Porirua, or even go further north, he said.

“Don’t think this will happen in the near or close future, but we have to be ready when the time comes,” Ms Wilde.

“The number of Otaki commuters using park-and-ride is slowly strangling our community, the extra parking area is already full,” Waikanae

Community Board chair, Michael Scott said. “How do we get Otaki closer to a definite solution - the Capital Connection is not a long term solution. The problem is that Otaki is part of this region …. and they’re left like leper cousins at the end of the line!”

Kapiti representative on the regional council, Nigel Wilson, pointed out that all services, apart from the Capital Connection, received a government subsidy.

However, all members agreed that improvements to the commuter park-and-ride needed an urgent upgrade.

And while Otaki people wait, may 10-15 years, the likelihood of a railway station at Raumati is sliding further and further into Never-Neverland.

I N F L U E N Z A VACCINATIONS

are now available at the OTAKI MEDICAL CENTRE

Please phone for your appointment

on 06 364 8555

No good news for Otaki rail


Focus On ..... .... Renéeby Lloyd Chapman

If the rapturous reception given to Renée is anything to go by, there will be a large number of family histories published soon.

To an audience of fifty, organised by Friends of the Kapiti Libraries at the Otaki Community Health Centre, Otaki author Renée launched her book Your Life, Your Story. Introduced by Mandy Hager, NZ's latest Katherine Mansfield scholar, Renée began by telling the audience 'The history of the world is just a giant patchwork of stories - we need to make sure that our patch is there.'

Renée's book is a delightful do-it-yourself guide to writing a memoir. It's for people who want to write their life story, not for those who want to publish a book. In 80 pages, she walks us logically through the practical aspects of charting one's life story. If all 'how to' books were written in such clear, concise and practical prose, the world would be a much easier place. This is one of the best practical guides I've ever read. Given that it was written by a local person in their 'eighties, I was inspired to find out more.

The best source of information for a lazy researcher is google. Type in Renée, Otaki and I get pages of stuff. The statistician in

me notes six novels, nineteen plays, short stories and a blog. A blog, how trendy is that? On the blog I see that Renee sets herself the arduous challenge of producing a new chapter of her next book every week, for the audience in the blogosphere. Wow!

Then, digging a bit further I find Renée in such illustrious company as Maurice Shadbolt, Maurice Gee, Janet Frame and Witi Ihimaera as recipient of the Robert Burns Fellowship - NZ's premier literary fellowship at Otago University in 1989. The Order of New Zealand Merit in 2006 for services to literature and drama, followed by the Sir Kingi Ihaka award in 2013 recognising a Maori artist's contribution to teaching and theatre suggests that here we have a person of significance in our midst.

When Renée, eldest of three children was four, her mother was widowed and the family had hard times but her mother gave Renée the two greatest gifts: she taught her to read and to work hard. She also imparted a discipline that is evident in Renée's approach to life. She brought up three teenage boys, taught at school and completed a B.A degree at the age of fifty.

Renée moved to Otaki six years ago 'to make a garden'. The much-admired

garden next to Nga Purapura has been her inspiration. At the age of eighty, Renée went to China, and on her return she started a ukelele group that meets every Thursday in her front room. 'Only five people, that's all we can fit in'.

For a decade, Renée taught creative writing at Whitereia: fiction, non-fiction and scriptwriting. Her students accept her writing discipline: 10 pages of work every week, no exceptions. At the end of the course, they achieve a book-length manuscript. Renée still enjoys mentoring aspiring writers. She has helped nearly a hundred people, many of whom have had their work published.

Now she's mistress of the digital world, reading books on her ipad, writing her blog. Her reputed skills are all 'smoke and mirrors', she reckons, but it's a convenient vehicle for her prodigious output. Find her at http://wednesdaybusk.com/

Renée tells me she's too busy to have a high profile. Otaki is lucky to have people of this calibre: generous of their time and welcoming of anyone who wants to talk about writing. An experience to savour.

Tall Woman in a Frame Your eyes are narrowed to keep out the intrusive sunyour mouth a line closed against God, life, a stonecaught in your sensible black shoe

you married a widower twice your age, two childrento head the twelve you had, and two who lie in bedsof quiet inside the houses of the dead

behind the line of your mouth red slippersdance under embroidered skirts, purple satin shawlstease violins and somewhere a silver flute signals platters of pomegranates, pears, their pale juiceslush on another’s lips - blue birds play with beesleopards offer sweetmeats, pour wine in glasses sunflowers turn their heads and bow as you strideinto high floating air - you climb that steep slopestand arm raised: but here in the black wooden frame you pose - behind you a trellis fence, beyond that the treeunder which you were born and where that line began

to carve itself into the newborn pink of your mouth.

Renée

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In January, we wrote about Otaki trainer Johno Benner and his success in training for his Te Horo mentor, horseman Chris Rutten. Since then, the news has only got better. Having won the country's richest race for youngsters Johno proceeded to win the country's highest rating race last week at Ellerslie, the Diamond Stakes. A Group 1 race, run at fixed weights, for a stake of $200,000 it attracted the best youngsters in the land. Benner's horse Vespa started favourite, led all the way to be regarded as the best two year old in the country. In a career to date of 6 starts, Vespa has won 4, being placed second and third in the other two. With nothing further to prove, he's having a well-deserved rest. With earnings of nearly $700,000 he's the top earning two year old. Owners Chris Rutten & John Norwood paid $34,000 for him at the 2012 yearling sales. But wait, there's more. The same astute owners and trainer placed in last year's richest two year old race, and while Vespa is having a spell, they've

got Kings Secret nominated for Saturday's Sires Produce Stakes at Awapuni. Winning his second start, at Otaki, Kings Secret will seek to beat the same horses that Vespa beat. It's very much an affair of two families. Johno works with Chris Rutten and his wife Donna, while Johno's partner Holly Wynyard rides all the Benner horses at the track.

There was a time when the Otaki racecourse was home to some of the country's top horsemen. Old timers will remember trainers like George Walton, Sam Bryce, Eric Ropiha, Clem Bowry, Snow Burgess and Mick Preston. The last Otaki trainer to taste Group one success was Karen Zimmerman, a decade ago. Now we've got Johno Benner to add to that illustrious list.

Otaki may no longer be the equine powerhouse it once was, but with Johno sitting seventh on the trainer's premiership in terms of stakes won, with seven wins from only 19 starts this season, people are beginning to sit up and take notice.

Vespa blitzes top field at Ellerslie March 8

Benner and Rutten bring equine glory to Otaki


By VYVIEN STARBUCK-MAFFEY

Why do I love the Otaki Kite Festival?

Because once a year on a weekend in March I get to overcome my fear of the ocean! Those majestic, serene furlongs of silk and twine blossoming and soaring in the river of a westerly make me feel as if I am underwater, at once ponderous and light. All the exhilaration of surfing without the shark phobia!

But we wouldn't enjoy kites half as much if they weren't firmly tethered, and back on earth there was work to do - because after all we had been invited by the organisers as the Otaki Community Patrol to support the event.

It was a great opportunity to talk to people about what we do, at the same time making ourselves useful. We worked shifts all weekend, answering questions,

directing visitors, strolling up and down the length of the carpark, amongst the great stalls, hogging the coffee queue, checking cars and enjoying the display and the crowds. We were also able to lend a helping hand guiding cars in and out of the disabled parking spot situated as close to the dune as possible.

Everyone was in high spirits, as high as kites in fact. Who didn't go home that day feeling just a bit more lighthearted and free in spirit, if a little cramped in the neck!?

Best of all one of our patrollers was able to rescue a dame in distress. Aunty Hira's car decided to put on its best flat tyre, but thanks to a couple of nimble fingers, fifteen minutes later the chariot of choice once more had the wind in its sails, or rather its tyres. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Aunty Hira, she is the first woman to be

ordained as priest at the historical Rangiatea Church in Otaki, the only Maori Church in New Zealand. She is also well-known for recognizing and promoting a law more serious than that of gravity: 'Otaki is the centre of the universe!'. But really, the best way of getting to know Aunty Hira a little better is chomping into her world-famous pikelets, made with lashings of love, jam and cream.

Perfect weather, a spectacular display - not forgetting the great Fuse Circus which put on its show gratis each day - wonderful crowds, and a community of locals and visitors all gazing upward at kites, what better way to spend a weekend?

For information about the Otaki Community Patrol please visit the Otaki Police Station in Iti Street or ring Errol on 027 230 8836.

Preheat a heavy-based frypan to medium heat. (This could be an electric frypan).Place egg and sugar in a bowl, and whisk to combine. Add milk and whisk until smooth.Place a sieve over the bowl. Sieve flour, baking soda and cream of tartar into the egg mixture, and stir until the batter is smooth. Grease preheated pan with a little butter.Pour spoonfuls of batter into the

pan and cook for 1-2 minutes on the first side. When the top surface is covered in bubbles and the pikelets begin to pop, turn them over and cook a further 1-2 minutes or until light golden in colour and bouncy to the touch. Repeat until all the batter is used up.Remove from the pan to a plate covered in a tea towel, and cool wrapped in the tea towel.Serve warm or cold with butter, jam and lashings of cream.

Otaki Community Patrol at the Kite Festival

It was only flat at the bottom! Otaki Community Patrol comes to Aunty Hira's aid

Aunty Hira's World Famous in Otaki Pikelets

(Feel free to double the recipe)

1 egg50g (1/4 cup) sugar200 ml (3/4 cup + 1 Tbsp) milk140g (1 cup) flour3/4 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp cream of tartarButter for greasing frypanLashings of butter, jam and whipped cream to serve

On Saturday 22 February 2014, Pihopa Muru Walters ordained a new priest at Rangiatea Church, Otaki, The Reverend Kahira Rau, who is the daughter of The Reverend Princess Monga and the late Reverend Tiria Richards Monga (known as Richard).The service was well attended by her whanau, members of the Otaki community, ministry personnel from throughout the Amorangi and the Otaki Ecumenical Choir, which she is a member of. Those who attended commented on what a wonderful service it was and how they felt the love and support of all those present and also of those who were unable to be there. The whakawhanaungatanga (fellowshipping) that followed was a testament to the joy and blessings of the day. Kahira has a strong Ngati Raukawa connection and her whakapapa links her to Ngati Takihiku (Kereru Marae) and Ngati Whakatere (Whakawehi Marae), as well as other iwi and hapu affiliations. Kahira has been an active member of Rangiatea since moving to Otaki in 2009 and until the ordination was the office administrator for four years. She now has a new role as the Rangatahi Enabler for Te Hui Amorangi Ki Te Upoko O Te Ika and also provides administration support for the Amorangi office.

New priest at Rangiatea


Graham Orchard(Otaki)

Andrew Malcolm(Paraparaumu)

Otaki Birthing Services

www.otakimidwives.org.nz Phone: 364 8337Open Thursday’s from 10.30am -12pm or by arrangement

Please ring for more information regarding the next ante natal class or to make an appointment to be seen

He Whare Kohanga OraMaternity Information and Resource Centre

288 Main Highway, Otaki



Ōtaki Community Health Centre

186 Mill Road, Otaki

Otaki Women’s Health CentreSexual Health ClinicsCervical Screening ClinicsCounsellingTotal Mobility AgentHealth Information

YogaMeals on Wheels

Arthritis Support GroupBowen Therapy 362 6603

Rebirthing Breathwork 021 143 4099ebooks Accounting 027 229 2312

MidCentral DHB – Alcohol & Other Drugs Service, Child, Adolescent & Family Mental Health and Adult Mental Health Service

Rooms available for rent, long or short termFor information on services phone Janet or Michelle on 364 6367

Monday – Friday

Taking Otaki’s pulse

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Otaki Medical Centre Benefits

A local man, stroke supporter David Clarke has been awarded a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ for his voluntary work in the central region for the NZ Stroke Foundation.

Awarded at their annual conference, the recognition was given because of the fundraising efforts to buy Abel-X machines for members and stroke victims to work on locally. This machine

is critical for long term success in rehabilitating stroke patients as it accelerates arm and memory recovery after a stroke. Machines, now available after David’s fundraising efforts, mean that local residents using it are showing great progress in recovery.

The exercise session is every Thursday afternoon at 1pm where the group meets to share and encourage each other’s recovery.

Award for Otaki Stroke Support Group Member

Some new funding from the Associate Minister of Health has benefitted the Otaki community. Extra funding for rural primary care has been granted to both the Otaki Medical Centre and the Tararua Health Group. Using urban/rural profiles from Statistics

NZ population estimates and a weighting for deprivation, MidCentral Health has been granted $75,949 for both rural communities. Plans for how to spend it are still being developed

David Clarke with Myrtle Buckley convenor of the Otaki Stroke Support group

Marilyn Stevens, the new field officer for the Horowhenua branch of the Cancer Society wants to know how it can best help you. The society is the leading advocate and source of information for cancer patients and their families. Part of their role is funding research, publishing booklets and leaflets, tapes and CDs, videos and books – all with the aim of making life easier for patients and families.The Horowhenua branch office is

part of a network of 16 branches providing local support services. The work of its many volunteers is critical to its success and as with most organisations it is always looking for more helpers.Marilyn is to hold an inaugural meeting for what she hopes will be a new support group in Otaki. This will be held on 9th April at 10am at the Otaki Community Health Centre in Mill Road. The aims of the meeting are to find out how best to serve you, to advise

the society is here to help and to get to know you. She hopes that a new support group will be established after this meeting to meet monthly thereafter.The inaugural meeting is open to anyone affected by cancer, patients, family, carers or friends. Volunteers are always needed and Marilyn says that drivers are still taking patients to the hospital in Palmerston North.Marilyn can be contacted on 06 367 8065

New Cancer Support Group

Mr Bernard Mitchell is someone who has benefited from having a cardiovascular risk assessment.Feeling unwell just over a year ago, Bernard decided to come to the GP for a check. He had a terrible thirst and was getting up 3-4 times most nights to use the toilet. Bernard’s immediate fear was that he could have diabetes, as others of his family members have had. Afterwards he wondered how he could have walked in.“After listening to my story and sending me off for blood tests, the results came back. I had Type 2 Diabetes, with very high glucose levels in my blood, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and an unmanaged heart rhythm- Atrial Fibrillation. This was a big wakeup

call”. The initial cardiovascular risk assessment, identified he was at a great risk for a heart attack or stroke. Bernard had a 42 % risk or chance, for a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years and the assessment highlighted where action needed to be taken. Care was based on information to Bernard about the conditions, how these may be effectively managed while considering his personal preferences. Over the year Bernard met regularly with Community Clinical Nurse Lynette Law and GP Bert Lombard to monitor progress and provide support. He has been able to make significant changes and improvement his health. “I have changed my food. No more fizz, I threw out

everything with sugar or salt in it, bought a bicycle, and try to walk rather than use the car”.Bernard already had made a big lifestyle change, when he decided to stop smoking in May 2012. “This was after 48 years; I was smoking 25 cigarettes a day which added up to

$25 a day. I feel much healthier”.Lifestyle change and medicine help to manage his diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rhythm. His risk has reduced to a more healthy level of 14%, and Bernard continues to work with Practice Nurse Jill Aungiers and GP Bert Lombard, who support him to keep up the good work. A Cardiovascular Risk Assessment or a heart check can identify risk and aspects of health that may be improved either through effective self management for someone’s lifestyle such as diet, physical activity or smoking and the best current evidence we know in condition management. Decisions always need to consider each individual’s personal preferences, and the preferences of family or whānau. Cardiovascular disease has an enormous impact on the lives and health of New Zealanders. Estimating the risk of a cardiovascular disease event is relatively easy; the hard part is for people to understand what that risk means to them. While using the cardiovascular risk assessment tool to identify risk, the most important aspect is for follow-up and effective management to ensure high-risk individuals have effective long-term interventions and support to reduce their risk and improve outcomes.Jill Aungiers, Bernard Mitchell, Bert Lombard

and in front Lynette Law

Good ourcome from risk assessment


A Word from the Past PresidentAGM - We held our Annual General Meeting on Sunday 16th March and we now have a new President. Congratulations to Peter Carr who has returned after a few years break. Peter was last President in both 2007 & 2008 and is looking forward to the challenges ahead. We have a new enthusiastic committee who are also looking forward to the year ahead. I have enjoyed my time as President over two periods and would like to thank all of those who have helped me and for the lasting friendships that have been formed. I will still be a committee member and I am always available by phone or email if anyone has any queries. Till next month.Roger Thorpe

Calendar 2014 March “Maoriland Film Festival” – March 26-30April“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Auditions – Sunday 6th April from 11am onwards“First World War Remembered” by Jan Bolwell – April 12-13May/JuneFirst Otaki Players Production of the Year“An Unseasonable Fall of Snow” by Gary Henderson directed by Jan DykstraAN UNSEASONABLE FALL OF SNOW WAS ORIGINALLY COMMISSIONED BY THE 1998 NZ INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS"You like puzzles ... ?" A bewildered young man is questioned by a ruthless interrogator, who circles like a predator, forcing him closer and closer to an awful admission. A compelling investigation of truth, consequences, and the ultimate value of human life.So if you are looking for a great night out in May put “An Unseasonable Fall of Snow” on your calendar,Performance Dates: - May 1-3 & May 8-10 – All tickets $15 available from 1 April“Skin Tight” by Gary Henderson directed by Ralph McAllister. June 5-7 & 12-14 August“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber – Director Linda Buckley, Musical Director Graham Orchard & Choreographer Nicola Powell. August 1-3, 7-10 & 13-16October/November“Peninsula” by Gary Henderson. October 30-31, November 1-2 & 6-8December“Cabaret Show” directed by Huia Veale. December 4-6 & 11-13Any enquiries please contact Roger on 364 8848, 021 259 2683 or [email protected]

By MARGARET ANDREWS

Renowned New Zealand actor, Jed Brophy was at Otaki College last week, to share his story with senior drama students, telling how a back-country farm boy can excel in the world of stage and film.

Growing up on a sheep farm in Taihape, horse riding was “just a part” of life, but his horse riding and training abilities led him to training horses for the Lord of the Rings for the riders of Rohan in the trilogy.

“Getting the make-up on for the Orcs started at 2am, we were in our costumes and make-up till the end of the day, often 2am!” he told the students. “I was a farmer until I was 20 then went to Otago University to train as a physical education teacher. I also took one paper in drama.”

He was in a couple of plays, when he met Wellington actress, Miranda Harcourt, who invited him to the NZ Drama School (now Toi Whakari).

The remarkable thing about film in New Zealand is we can think outside the square and make or create items needed, “when producing overseas films here, we don’t have to send to America for parts, someone here is able to create it within a week rather than months if required from overseas. Here in New Zealand, a lot of people do a lot of work for nothing. It’s the only place in the world this happens!”

The first film he was in was about the World War 1 Battle of Chunuk Bair which involved the Kiwi forces. During the filming of Secondhand Wedding, which was shot on the Kapiti Coast, his own garage was used. “This was the biggest grossing New Zealand comedy before Boy was released two years later,” Brophy said.

Working with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh are among highlights of his career. “Peter and Fran are not just great film makers, they’re incredibly generous at helping young talent,” he

told his audience. He has also been in The Hobbit and King Kong among others. “ But the Lord of the Rings trilogy is still my favourite.”

His advice to young aspiring Otaki actors and film makers was to be involved in physical activities - athletics, trampoline skills, sword work, martial arts: all good attributes for stunt work. For work “get an agent.”

“Anything physical you can do – dance, netball, horse riding… the more you can do the better. Attitude is more important than ability, it’s not a bad thing to have an ego – just keep it in check! If you’re a small bit actor in New Zealand, keep your head down and do your best. And sometimes, how you look can be a help!” this rather “skinny” actor said.

For film making, he recommended the yearly 48 Hour Film Festival, where teams are given a genre and set line which must be included, and have just 48 hours to prepare, film and complete the production of their film and have it into Wellington by 7pm

on the Sunday night! (If in doubt, ask local film maker Errol Maffey)

A special experience for Brophy, was acting with his son Riley in the two man cast for An Unseasonable Fall of Snow in Wellington earlier this year. “Riley was a professional actor by age 14, he’s now in UK staying with Sir Ian McKellen!”

Brophy and Otaki College drama teacher, Anna Groves first met at the NZ Drama School. One of her funniest memories of working with Brophy was in King Kong when they were filming on the ship when it started sinking just off Kapiti Island! Fortunately there were no casualties.

“When overseas you get mobbed and can spend two days just signing autographs, here you can walk down the street, people just say hi,” he said. “What I like about growing up in Taihape, people there don’t care I’m an actor, they just want to know if I can still shear 200 sheep a day!” he said.

New Zealand actor, Jed Brophy shows young, up-coming actor Cody Watson 13, stage moves for a fight, during his visit to Otaki College drama students.

Kiwi actor wows Otaki College students

By MARGARET ANDREWS

City kids came to visit a working dairy farm to learn about where milk came from and how it started its journey before arriving in plastic bottles at the local supermarket.The day began for the 66 pupils from Rewa Rewa School in Newlands, at Peter Wilson’s dairy farm in Te Horo, earlier this month, along with their teachers and several parents. “Our project is on Food for Thought – healthy food and where it comes from,” deputy principal Mary Winiata said. “I saw the Dairy New Zealand programme advertised, contacted the lady there who contacted the farmer, Tim Wilson and arranged the visit and so we’ve come to see where milk comes from. It’s the first time most of the children have been on a farm.”First up for the children was a drink of chocolate or strawberry flavoured milk - just as they get it from the local supermarket. But where did it come from and how did it get to the supermarket, that was to be the day’s lesson.Farm managers, Tim and Cynthia Wilson, had kept back a dozen cows from the normal 5am milking schedule and brought them into the milking shed for the children to watch the routine in progress. There were gasps of “oohs and yuk” at the unaccustomed smells, made worse when one four legged

lady “obliging” demonstrated some of the cowshed dangers, to the mixture of disgust and amusement from those watching! The normal milking session has 320 cows through the herring bone shed, twice a day, though with the current drought and low grass growth, Wilson’s are only milking once a day. As the cows placidly walked back to their paddock, the children could “experience” the feel of the suction caps which go on to the cows teats, then it was outside to see how the milk went from the 11,000 litre vat is transferred into the collection tanker, which calls at the Wilson’s every two days. On March 11 it collected 8501 litres of milk from the chiller vat – it must be kept at a low temperature, if it goes above seven degrees Celsius, the tanker driver can’t collect it. Mrs Wilson opened a cover in the side of the vat and the children got to peek inside to see the milk being swirled around inside. Question time followed with either the farmer or Fonterra area manager, Max Johnston answered the children’s questions. “Do the cows have names? How old are they? What kind are they” were among questions asked.Mr Wilson told them that with so many cows they were only known by the number on their ear tag, the cows on the farm were Friesians and usually started being milked when a couple of years old, their

ages varied, but 15 was getting old for a cow.Then it was barbecued sausages and fruit juice for lunch and an ice cream - more milk, organised through New World Otaki. Quiz time followed on what they’d learnt and a variety prizes were handed out, there was something for everyone; the milk tanker left to collect from two more farms before heading to Longburn to unload and it was time for the

visitors to get back on the bus for the journey back to school.Their visit was organised under the Dairy New Zealand Find a Farmer initiative, where farmers offer to host a visit from a school, which can apply to go on a visit. “We are interested in building communication between the primary schools and farms,” Mr Johnston said. “It is part of our relationship building between the farmer and the community.

Fonterra is co-owned by the dairy farmers – they have a number of shares in the company according to how much milk they supply.”Fonterra supplied the flavoured milk and ice creams plus a goodie bag for teach child to use on the bus trip back to Wellington. The day was supported by DNZ who had several representatives there and Farmlands Otaki were also there – manning the barbecue.

Newland’s Rewa Rewa School pupils, eight year olds Ella Pan and Bieza Barliana peer into the huge 11,000 litre milk vat, to watch the milk swishing around inside. Over 8500 litres of milk had been pumped into the milk tanker ready for its journey to Longburn, at the Wilson’s dairy farm in Te Horo. Cynthia Wilson, farm co-manager, was there to help them onto the shed platform.

Newlands children visit Te Horo dairy farm


Talisman Nursery

Specialists in Native Plants

OPEN 1–4pm Tue – Thu 10am – 4pm Fri & Sat

or call for an appointment with Stephen

135 Ringawhati Road, Otaki Ph: 06-364-5893 Mb: 021-0246-4474

[email protected] www.talismanplants.weebly.com

With a wide range of NZ natives, all grown in Otaki we can help get your garden looking good. Whether you need assistance with a garden makeover or just looking to fill a gap we have the plants and knowledge to help

Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata)

Myoga (Zingiber mioga) is a relatively little known immigrant from Japan, a delicate, sweet tasting perennial that has earned great popularity in its native land. Unlike the well-known ginger root found in supermarkets, myoga’s flavour is rather mild and subtle, adding a gentle, gingery taste to many dishes, including Thai-style soups such as ton yum goong, stir-fry, many Asian-style seafood recipes and salads.

The thumb-sized, pinkish-bronze buds emerge from the soil separately from the leafy stems and it’s these unopened flower buds we use – they are harvested just as they appear above the soil and before myoga’s pale yellow flowers start opening above ground level. This happens around February and continues into April, particularly if you keep picking buds regularly, which stimulates production, as with asparagus and beans. Its 90cm green leafy stems disappear below ground in May, reappearing again from the root mass in spring.

Myoga is easy to grow and very productive, thriving in any friable garden soil rich in organic matter. It doesn’t produce seed so can’t spread beyond your garden and become a nuisance, but because it’s a perennial it is easier to manage if given its own space separate from other vegetable crops.

Like most gingers this is a woodland plant in the wild, and it thrives in bright, dappled sunlight, though it will also grow well in full sun.

Every spring spread a layer of compost over the soil before your new shoots start to emerge, or mulch with untreated sawdust, like commercial growers in Japan, to suppress weeds and provide a loose, clean medium for growing buds.

Research on crop yields and its potential as a export to Japan has already began here, but as a home-grown garden crop, myoga has huge value as a nutritious, versatile autumn vegetable that can be enjoyed in season or blanched and frozen whole for use in cooking throughout the year.

Eaten raw the flower buds taste like sweet, young, gingery heart celery, but for a treat, try buds shredded and fast-fried in tempura batter. They can also be thinly sliced length-wise and used in sushi, or halved and dipped in teriyaki sauce as an appetiser.

Focus on myoga – edible ginger

Flower gardenFinish planting your spring flowering bulbs such as narcissus, anemones and ranunculus - April is also an

ideal month for putting in tulips.Plant out cuttings of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.Prune shrubs that have finished flowering.Dig up, divide and replant old or overcrowded perennials, such as Michaelas daisies, phlox and heleniums. Plant the healthy, vigorous parts of the plant in soil that has been enriched with compost and fertiliser, and discard the older,

exhausted parts.Keep dead heading any dahlias still in flower to encourage flowering.Keep dead heading your roses as their autumn flush finishes, and prepare rose beds for planting in the coming months. Once the beds have been dug over, composted and fertilised they can be left to settle for several weeks

before planting.Seedlings of many ornamentals can be planted now – hollyhock, Iceland poppies, primrose, larkspur, pansies, nemesias, Canterbury bells, gaillardias, polyanthus and snapdragon.Sow seeds of summer-flowering sweet pea, calendula, cornflower, English daisy, lupin, stock, dianthus, lobelia, alyssum and viola.Fruit and vegetable gardenKeep harvesting pumpkins, kumi kumi and butternut – store in a cool, airy place for use throughout winter.Continue earthing up your leeks and celery, and give regular applications of liquid manure.Late crops of potatoes and kumaras can be lifted.Some passion fruit vines will still be bearing – fruit can be picked as soon as it begins to turn purple.Kiwifruit can be picked as soon as they soften and taken inside to ripen fully – the riper they are picked, the sweeter the fruit.Pick up the last of pears and apples, and store in a cool, dark place.Rhubarb can be divided and replanted into compost-enriched soil.

LawnsThis is a good month for rejuvenating old lawns and sowing new ones – lawns sown this month should make good growth before winter.Also apply lawn fertiliser to all existing lawns.

Second thoughtsApril is a time of leaf gathering – those red and golden leaves from your deciduous trees are nature’s way of ensuring good crops in the future, and should be spread around trees and shrubs, or turned into compost. Layers of autumn leaves and grass clippings make super-rich compost, particularly if you add a thin layer of animal manure between thicker layers of grass and leaves.This is also a time to think of planting hedges – get them growing now, and they will be pretty well established by next spring.

Garden tasks for April

Time for sowing

Myoga


by VIVIENNE BAILEY

[email protected]

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It’s time to start planning a bit of colour for those fast-approaching cooler days. Our autumn follows hard on the heels of a rather tepid summer - many of us yearn for a bit of ‘cheer me up.’ Thank goodness then for those reliable stalwarts, the band of intrepid annuals that bravely splash their brightly-hued blooms into our grey-tinged days.

Pansies are an all-time favourite, although despite advances such as improved heat tolerance, they perform better in cooler months. They hate persistent, heavy rain particularly the large flowered types, so a sheltered spot is best.

My favourites are violas – they have a special charm, with their smaller blooms, and they’re less prone to bending rain-battered heads. They also tend to have a neater and more compact growth habit.

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) bring back memories of Grandma’s garden. They now come in a wide selection of plant sizes and flower forms - tall types are ideal for

sheltered borders, and great for picking. Dwarf varieties are great for instant colour, like ‘Tahiti’ which produces masses of short, dense spikes of flowers in numerous colours on a bushy 30cm tall plant. These look good mass planted, especially with pansies and spring bulbs.

For a medium height snapdragon ‘La Bella’ is an outstanding series,

producing a profuse display of showy, fragrant spikes on dark green foliage. The plants reach about 55cm high, and the bright-coloured blooms are great for picking.

Fairy primroses (Primula malacoides) are delicate-looking annuals with tiny, single flowers above pale- green foliage, much like a miniature floral bouquet. Maybe that’s why butterflies love them! They prefer moist, humus-rich soil, and look lovely growing in a rock garden or container.

Pot marigolds (Calendula officinalis) are easily grown annuals that produce bright- coloured flowers at a time when warm hues are particularly welcome. Different varieties vary in vigour, and in the colour and form of the bloom they produce. Dwarf varieties are useful for containers, and at the front of gardens. Taller types are less disease prone however, and are useful as cut flowers - abundant self- sown seedlings will be a blessing - or perhaps a curse!

New variations of ever popular alyssum (Lobelia maritime) continue to emerge. There’s a wide range of

growth habits and an ever increasing selection of flower colours.

‘Easter Bonnet’ has a light, honey fragrance, and produces a mat-forming, clump of foliage, with hairy, lance-shaped leaves. Blooms are coloured lavender, violet and deep shades of rose and pink. Great for rock gardens, between flagstones, and looks pretty planted with

pansies, sweet William and parsley in containers. ‘Snow Crystals’ is a vigorous, older alyssum, with a

sweet scent. The dazzling, pure white flowers are produced on neat mounds - perfect as edging or ground cover. For more blooms keep the plant trimmed back.

And don’t overlook the wide range of jewel-coloured polyanthus - a couple planted near the front door, either in a pot, or in the garden, provide a bright, welcoming note on chilling days – a great ‘cheer me up.’

Chilly day colour

It's Harvest Time !


Transformed Ōtaki playground goes retro

Ōtaki makes Lonely Planet

A modern retro theme will be used to transform the playground beside Ōtaki’s i-SITE Visitor Centre on SH1.Over the next few months much of the older equipment in the playground will be replaced by equipment reminiscent of a 1960s play area, such as a tractor, a merry-go-round, swings and a ‘lullaby’ rocking horse which can seat up to four children at a time.The layout of the playground will also be changed, making it more user-friendly.The work is part of a planned programme by Council to ensure our playgrounds are well-maintained and updated if required.

Council’s Leisure and Open Space Contract Operations Officer, Jonny Baxter, said the retro theme would make the playground different from others in the District.“This is a very well-patronised playground that is used by shoppers and travellers passing through as well as by local residents. We want to create a playground which is iconic and attracts more people to the area.“If shoppers know there is a good playground for their children to play in which is close to the

retail shopping area, they are more likely to come to Ōtaki. That can only be positive for Ōtaki’s retailers.”Mr Baxter said the design would be “loud” and stand out to visitors.“It will create a bit of nostalgia among older people who recognise the equipment as being similar to the things they played on as children. It will certainly create interest.”James Cootes, Chair of the Ōtaki Community Board says the new playground will be a welcome

addition to the other great facilities offered in Ōtaki.“It will enhance the experience of visiting Ōtaki. The theme will be a refreshing change from the standard playgrounds often found. It will hopefully become a talking point amongst families, further strengthening Ōtaki’s position as a destination. “We hope everyone enjoys it!”The work is being done by June 30 to a budget of $53,000.

Otaki-

Fresh from the resounding success of the Ōtaki kite festival, the town has now hit the international stage. The March/April issue of Lonely Planet Asia – the world’s leading travel guide – devoted half a page to Ōtaki and the kite festival, right next to an article about Beijing. Ōtaki Village Promotions Group chair Ian Carson supplied a photo and publicity materials to Lonely Planet Asia earlier this year and the Group has recently received an email copy of the guide. The half page on Ōtaki was in the ‘10 Easy Trips’ section. Ōtaki was number two after Paro in Bhutan.

Walkway loop completed at Haruatai ParkA long-term project to build a loop walkway around Ōtaki’s Haruatai Park has come to fruition, giving walkers and runners a new fitness trail.The loop consists of a 1.2-metre-wide compacted gravel path, starting behind the playgroup and guide/scout buildings. It continues up on to the rise north of the playing fields, then drops down to skirt around the back of the sports club and the swimming pool to complete a loop of about a kilometre.Council’s Cycleways, Walkways and Bridleways Planner, Stuart Kilmister, says the walkway has been a two or three-year project, completed in stages during the summer months.“With the existing fitness equipment stations dotted around the park, this gives Ōtaki

residents a new recreational opportunity. It’s great for runners and dog walkers.”The loop may also be extended through the native bush on the neighbouring land belonging to the Office of Treaty Settlements.This was the vision of the late Dr Barry Brayston, who as chair of Keep Ōtaki Beautiful wished to see a walking track established connecting Haruatai Park to the cemetery and beyond.Council is now reconnecting pathways through the Office of Treaty Settlements’ land, with a view to accomplishing that vision.

The invitation to have your say on the Council’s Annual Plan is now open to residents until 28 April.The Annual Plan is the Council’s budget and work programme. It details where money will be spent over the next year, which projects are going to be progressed and how much has to be raised in rates to cover the spending.A total of six public workshops have been held by Council since the start of February, covering every area of spending from stormwater and wastewater management to libraries, economic development, parks and swimming pools.Following the workshops, a Draft Annual

Plan was developed. It was adopted by Council on March 20 and has now been released to the public for feedback.Mayor Ross Church is urging people to “have their say” on the Plan.“Lots of thought and discussion has gone into this Plan to achieve two principal goals – to find a balance between the ongoing spending needs of the District, in order that our everyday requirements for such necessities as roading, libraries, recreational facilities and water are met; and achieving our aim to keep rates at an affordable level.

“Council’s desire is to be more open and inclusive with the community, and this is an important area for people to let us know what they want. “I encourage members of the community to take this opportunity to engage with us.”Submission forms are available through Council’s Customer Services Centres in the Civic Building in Paraparaumu, Waikanae Library and Ōtaki Library. They can also be downloaded from Council’s website www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/Draft-Annual-Plan

A monthly newsletter from your local council

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE ANNUAL PLAN

Ōtaki Community Board chair James Cootes surveys the layout of Haruatai Park from the new walkway.

28 March 2014

Mill Road

Anzac Road

Haruatai Park Loop Track


Ōtaki College NewsMarch 2014 www.otakicollege.school.nz

From the PrincipalHow to study successfully: Karen BoyesAs part of our on-going commitment to help teach our students how to successfully study we have had the highly acclaimed Karen Boyes back to work with students, staff and parents. Karen has given everyone some fantastic ideas around how to study successfully.You can locate Karen’s resources from Spectrum Education on http://spectrumeducation.com/portal/content/view/61/142/ or download her study app for $2.00 called istudy which has a number of applications and hints how to study.The most important fact that comes from her seminars is that it is not homework that makes the difference but the commitment to study and every student should study every night if they employ her techniques and this will significantly raise their ability to pass assessments and retain information and learning.Sporting SuccessesWe have hit the summer sport season with a large number of students choosing to participate in sport teams and I applaud all students for wanting to enjoy sport and represent the college. Some recent highlights have been;Wellington Regional Athletics - Keagan Hargreaves – Raika (2nd in long jump and 100m finalist), Max Ralston (3rd Long jump) and Orion Fulford (200m finalist) all performed to a very high standard at the inter college athletics recently.Wellington Regional Touch TournamentThe Touch Girls won the Wellington Regional Tournament and only allowed two points to be scored against them over the entire tournament – these were scored

against them in the final which they took out 4 – 2 against Wellington East Girls.

Good luck for the Central Regional Zonal Tournament to try and go on to Nationals.College Triathalon and Interschool School Triathalon – A big congratulations to Mitchell Rutter who won the Sport Well ington Regional inter College Triathalon. This is an outstanding result!Primary Schools TriathalonThe following junior students competed in the Primary Schools Triathalon at Waikanae. They have done amazingly well – very well done!Girls eventDaisy Davis 1st (field of 30)Lauren Blakely 10thBoysNick Fleming 1st (field of 31)Damien Doyle 4thMatthew Brooker 10th

Waka Ama – there has been a real resurgence in this sport and the students are really training hard. Their awesome efforts were recently rewarded at their first Waka Ama Regatta in Porirua. 2 Crews

competed (Kia kaha and Kia Maia) 250m Plate Final – Kia Kaha 1st, Kia

Maia 3rd500m Plate Final – Kia Maia 1stW 1 C h a m p s – Mahinaarangi 3rd I want to thank the Hawaikinui Waka Ama club and parents for al l their efforts to commence putting the college back on the map in Waka Ama.Canoe PoloCongratulations to the Ōtaki College Senior Open Division 2 Team

for being given wildcard entry to the Secondary School Nationals. Big ThanksI would like to sincerely thank New World Ōtaki, Ōtaki Meats, Streetwise and Peter Northern for their support for the College in our recent sport related fundraising activities. Without the ongoing support of local community minded people and businesses fundraising would be so much harder. THANK YOU!Did you know?Ōtaki was recently named in the famous Lonely Planet publication as one of the top 10 destinations to travel to in the world! Local identity Ian Carson sent in a photo of the Kite festival and details about our town and it is now out there in the top 10 alongside places like Bali, Ha Long (Vietnam) and Beijing! Great things can come in small packages.Andy FraserPrincipal

Student Management Pastoral Care at Ōtaki CollegeŌtaki College has built up a national profile for its work in Restorative Practice and Positive Behaviour for Learning Initiatives. While this has been talked about in previous publications not everyone knows the hard working and dedicated team that guides much of this work in the college.The team consists of the following members;• Janice Brown (Senior Dean in charge of Student Management/Specialist Classroom Teacher and PB4L Coach)• Anne Hagan (Year 13 Dean/PB4L Committee)• Maggie Crooks (Year 11 and 12 Dean/PB4L Committee)• Megan Nelson-Latu (Year 9 and 10 Dean/PB4L Committee)• Greg Whithair (Year 7 and 8 Dean/PB4L Committee)• Avatar Loorparg (Dean of International Students)• Jo McInerney (Guidance Counsellor/PB4L Committee)• H i n e W i l s o n ( A t a k u r a Counsellor)• Gaye Campbell (Learning Support Coordinator)• S t e p h P u t t ( C a r e e r s Counsellor)

The team is there to help staff, students and whanau/families to build strong relationships and in doing so enable them to work effectively from a strength based model to develop solutions to problems and put things right when this is required.If you ever have any concerns about your child do not hesitate to contact their Form

Class teacher or their Year level Dean. The sooner we know about any concerns the quicker we can intervene.Chromebook UpdateThe Chromebooks are in Ōtaki and soon our students and their teachers will be fully engaged in 21st Century tools for learning. We are planning to have our “open the lid day” in Week Ten. Caregivers are now organising the purchasing or finance details of the Chromebooks through the Te Reanga Ipurangi Trust. Both students and parents are signing a Kawa of Care that give guidelines on how to care for, and use the devices for learning. Teachers are continuing to upskill in curriculum delivery uti l ising the Chromebooks. We are most excited in this educational initiative that is been supported by our parents, teachers and community.Marion LumleyDeputy Principal

Back Row: Gaye Campbell, Jo McInerney, Greg Whithair, Maggie Crooks, Anne HaganFront Row: Steph Putt, Avatar Loorparg, Janice Brown, Megan Nelson-Latu Absent: Hine Wilson

By MARGARET ANDREWS

Otaki College will have three student directed productions in the upcoming Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival.While they haven’t had any directing experience previously, they are all keen thespians. Rohan Van Der Wurff and Grace Teu both took part in last year’s competition, but for Alexandra Schaefer from Germany, it’s a first time experience. “I love the possibility of doing drama,” she said. “In Germany it’s not a school subject, but after school interest only.” Grace has chosen a scene from Taming of the Shrew Act 2 Scene 1, Rohan’s choice is from The Tempest, which he both directs and performs in and Alexandra has chosen a short piece from act 1 of MacBeth. None of the directors were giving away anything about how they were staging their scene, whether in a traditional or modern genre.For the Shakespeare Festival, there are two sections, the student directed scene, for which they

have just five minutes to perform and the teacher directed 15 minute scene, these can come from any of Shakespeare’s plays. Judging is on performance, costume and portrayal of the chosen theme and time, if the performance is too short or too long, points are deducted.Otaki College are hosting the Shakespeare Festival this year in the college hall. It was hoped to use the Civic Theatre, but with the number of actors coming from six or seven colleges, there could be up to 100 students taking part, either on stage or support crew.The winning teacher directed and student directed plays, will go on to the New Zealand National Finals in Wellington over Labour Weekend. One actor will also be awarded direct entry to the Shakespeare Workshop Week held in September.It’s curtain up on April 5 at 2pm in the Otaki College Hall, entry to watch these amazing actors is just a gold coin donation. Results and prizegiving will be at the end of the afternoon.

Otaki College up-coming drama directors, Alexandra Schaefer, Grace Teu and Rohan Van Der Wurff, discuss some of the ideas about directing a segment of a Shakespeare play, as they head into final rehearsals and costuming for the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival, being hosted at Otaki College in April.

By MARGARET ANDREWS

Cyclone Lusi stayed away, the sun shone, hundreds turned up, helping to make the Otaki School Gala a great success.“Again, an amazing success,” Alice Derbidge deputy principal and gala organiser said. “I’m so proud of Otaki School and the Otaki community at large, their generosity was tremendous.’People has been particularly generous with their donations and time: she would arrive at school some mornings to find “car loads” of goods at the door. The quick fire raffles proved to be very lucrative – the prizes were good, too. The guys from the Harley Davidson Social Riders Club donated all their time, give kids big and small motorbike

rides out to the beach and back! The total $500 from the rides went to the school. One of the club members has a grandson at the school.The Otaki Axeman’s Club held a competition day, with clubs from Wanganui, Marton Taranaki and Upper Hutt competing. A new class was the junior under 16 events. Young Welby Wallace aged eight, scored a first place in his first event, in the second he never gave up when he struck a very tough poplar log, probably from the same tree which almost beat his mother, NZ champion, Alma Wallace in the women’s event! This was the second year the club has held at carnival at the gala, they bring their own entourage with them, which adds to the crowd.“They like coming here, where there

is already an event happening,” Mrs Derbidge said.There was a wide variety of food stalls, from the ever popular hangi, to sausages and hot chips, to a choice of salads or fruit kebabs, pipi fritters, burgers, cupcakes and muffins. A popular activity was the chocolate fountain where people could dip a marshmallow on a skewer into the hot chocolate for just 50 cents a treat. The cakes and toffee apples

were popular, while the traditional stalls - jumble, white elephant, books and

toys all did a great trade. There was plenty of entertainment including exhibitions by the Otaki Tae Kwon Do Club and the school kapa haka and the school’s songsters among others. Mrs Derbidge said they hoped to have raised about $10,000 after expenses.

New Zealand and world women’s woodchopping champion, Otaki’s Alma Wallace was almost beaten by an “extremely tough log” in the women’s underhand event. Starting from a 50 second handicap, she would normally still finish first, but Saturday’s log was so hard she could quite catch the opposition, but not letting the wood win, she kept going until it was cut through!

Otaki Primary School GalaOtaki Shakespeare Scholars

New Zealand and world women’s woodchopping champion, Otaki’s Alma Wallace was almost beaten by an “extremely tough log” in the women’s underhand event. Starting from a 50 second handicap, she would normally still finish first, but Saturday’s log was so hard she couldn't quite catch the opposition, but she didn't let the wood win.


Otaki Rotary News Rotary in the Community.District 9940 (New Plymouth to Wellington) Rotary Conference was held in Foxton on 21-23rd March. You may have seen volunteers in blue shirts working with the friends of the Otaki River planting trees and erecting seats. Or you may have seen the army descend on Stand for Children to paint and decorate the Families room? This year the emphasis was put on projects, 13 in all, out in the Kapiti Horowhenua area, being visible, doing what we do best.50th Anniversary celebrations in April Otaki Rotary was chartered in April 1964. For 50 years, Otaki Rotary has been a vital part of the fabric of Otaki, organising events, supporting scholars, collecting for good causes, fundraising for community projects, taking part in Global initiatives such as ending polio, and sharing fellowship.As part of the celebrations, Otaki Rotary is mounting a display “50 years of Rotary in Otaki’ at the Otaki Museum. An official opening is to be held on the evening of Friday the 4th April, followed by a day of reunion, fellowship, yarns and socialising on the Saturday. We are expecting good numbers of former Rotarians to join us for

the weekend.The display will be open to all on the usual Thursday, Friday, and Saturday during April and May. Key personnel in organising this display and weekend are Rex Kerr, Graham Carthew, Ian Ballantyne, and Julia Atkins, helped by many others.Otaki Rotary has one member with continuous attendance for 50 years, Don Edhouse, and several others with 40 years of service clocked up, including Carl Lutz, Rex Kerr, and Graham Carthew, notable achievements.Dictionaries in Schools This year, Otaki Rotary has again distributed 160 brightly coloured, pictorial dictionaries to year 4 students at Te Horo, Waitohu, Otaki and Manakau schools. These dictionaries are the students to keep for life, and are very much appreciated by them and their familiesWinter Speaker programme Otaki Rotary have an exciting speaker programme planned for this winter. Kicking off after Easter, we will have excellent speakers each Thursday, right through till we host a ‘Candidates night’ in September. Talk to a Rotarian for more details.

By MARGARET ANDREWS

Friends of the Otaki River (FOTOR) members have been planting the wetlands near the Otaki River estuary, now the new area has 500 plants in the ground, all the work of visiting Rotarians.

Last weekend members and their partners from Rotary District 9940, covering the Wellington, Manawatu and Wairarapa region, were in Foxton for their annual conference. Instead of two to three days listening to

speakers, meetings and discussions; one of the organisers, Joy Durrant arranged for groups to go out to 14 different community tasks, from Palmerston North to Paraparaumu. Groups were sent out to pre-arranged tasks around the region and three groups came to Otaki, to work at the estuary and Stand (Children’s Health Camp). Nobody went back to their own area.

One group of 25 arrived at the estuary site, where the 500 holes had been dug with the plants ready to put in. With the ground so dry,

a group from FOTOR had already poured water into the holes. The planting, fertilising and mulching process was explained, and the visitors set to work.

After the lunch break, Mrs Durrant unveiled a sign.

Their day finished with them helping some of FOTOR group complete the mulching and watering-in the new plants.

“There’s plenty of moisture for them and our Wednesday volunteers will come down and water them again next week,” FOTOR

president Max Lutz said “We wouldn’t normally plant this early, but we appreciated what Rotary wanted to do. This block is wetter.”

Back along the stopbank road, two new seats were installed up on the lookout platform, by another group. These wooden benches had been made by the Waikanae MenzShed group. (Otaki’s group wasn’t “up and running” when the arrangements were made).

The visiting Rotarians and their partners at the Rotary planted area down near the Otaki River Estuary. All the visitors were supplied with Rotary International hi-viz jackets and the blue Rotary Volunteer Army t-shirts.

Rotary and Friends of the Otaki River on a planting spree

Trying out the new seat at the Otaki River Estuary lookout are visiting Wellington Rotarians David Howden and Diana Linforth Howden, in hi-viz tops, and Friends of the Otaki River, Max Lutz and Trevor Wylie. The new seats were built by the Waikanae MenzShed members, who helped install them at the lookout.

By MARGARET ANDREWSThe Rotary Club of Otaki was busy last

week with its annual delivery of illustrated dictionaries to year four children in our schools.

President, Grant Robertson and Wilfred Geerling visited the schools, talking to the children about the value a dictionary to has their learning and spelling.

“Dictionaries help you spell and sound words, they increase our word power,” Mr Robertson told the Manakau School pupils. “The dictionaries are yours to keep, first thing to do – write your name inside.”

Young William Fogden at Manakau has been waiting anxiously for a long time for his dictionary, even asking his teacher, on the very first day back at school “will I be getting my dictionary this year.” He was the first Manakau pupil to receive his very own dictionary from the Rotary visitors, last week.

At Otaki School the children from the bilingual and Maori immersion classes were just as excited as the mainstream pupils to receive their very own dictionaries. The immersion unit pupils will begin an English syllabus later in the year.

“The club raises money in the community from a number of events,” Mr Robertson told them. “Some of that money goes to buy your dictionaries.”

“Our Home & School Association helped sell raffle tickets in the Rotary Christmas trailer raffle, our share of the funds raised is all going to buy books for our library,” principal Paddy Sannazzaro told the children.

Rotary was delivering 120 dictionaries to children in Otaki schools, including Waitohu and Te Horo.

Rotary president-elect for 2015, Ian McIndoe visited Otaki School and assisted with handing out the dictionaries.

At Manakau School, their new dictionaries have been delivered and everyone’s anxious and keen to get reading!


The recent Ōtaki Kite Festival was a huge success, largely because of the efforts of a

community that supported the organisers, the Ōtaki Village Promotions Group. The OVPG

appreciated the assistance of the many individuals and organisations listed below, plus

the big number of unnamed volunteers who worked throughout the weekend. This note is to acknowledge them all – and you, the Ōtaki

public – for turning up and making it a fantastic family-friendly event. We’ll be back next year,

better than ever!

Ōtaki Village Promotions Group Committee:Ian Carson (Chair), Barbara Franks (Kite Festival Organiser),

Carol Ward, Yvonne de Mille, Meagan Roach (Secretary), Debbi Carson, Annie Bythell, Gavin Case, Graham Rikihana,

James Cootes and Doug Newton.

ANZ OtakiBeachFMBlack & Co Leather BeltsBlue Skies Art GalleryCafé RaCaltex OtakiCarl LutzCreative CommunitiesEdhouse’sFirst National Real Estate OtakiFuse CircusGemma Rutherford PhotographyHamish Barham PharmacyHammer Hardware OtakiHipsta OtakiKapiti Coast District CouncilNZ Kite Flyers Assn membersPeter Lynn KitesLow Cost BinsOtaki Community Patrol

Main St EmporiumNew World OtakiOtaki CollegeOtaki MailOtaki Street SceneOtaki Surf Life Saving ClubPub CharityPumpkin PatchRiverStone CaféRotary Club of Otaki Sim’s ContractorsSkinniesSmall & CoThe Family HotelThe TeleTop Brand OutletTrevor HunterWaitohu SchoolWaitohu Stream Care Group

By MARGARET ANDREWS

Public Speaking & Responses:John Wray spoke to his email to Otaki Community Board members covering issues surrounding the removal of native trees and shrubs from a local property. Mr Cootes responded the Board was unable to discuss or answer his questions, as the specific case regarding Peter and Diana Standen and Kapiti Coast District Council was before the courts. He did say that the board had been involved in the issue and have asked for better communication at early stages of emerging issues.Otaki Village Promotions Group representatives, Ian Carson, Barbara Franks and Carol Ward, reported on the outstanding success of the recent kite festival and Fuse Acrobatic Circus. They thanked the Board and community for their support. OCB chair, James Cootes congratulated them on the “excellent and awesome festival we had”. Charles Ropata asked the Board about progress for an enlarged bus shelter at Coastlands. Mr Cootes replied everything possible had been done, but Coastlands management wasn’t prepared to move on the issue. Nigel Wilson, Kapiti representative on Greater Wellington Regional

Council, said the bus stop was on private land, GWRC was reviewing some bus stops and there was possibly a funding option available.Mr Wilson also reported on a bus tour of Otaki by GWRC councillors and staff and their amazement of what Otaki had, other than the railway shopping centre.Grant Applications:The OCB approved grants from the Community Grants Fund to four organisations. Horowhenua branch of NZ Victim Support was granted $500 to assist costs of the service coordinator.Otaki Community Patrol was granted $500 to assist with costs of operating the community patrol car.He iti na Motai/Te Wananga O Raukawa was granted $210 for purchase of two rainwater tanks for the preschool centre.Otaki MenzShed was granted $500 to assist with cost of building repairs and maintenance of their workshop.Two grants were approved from the Sporting Activity Fund. Otaki College Waka Ama teams were granted $500 towards cost of two teams attending the Secondary Schools Waka Ama Championships in Rotorua. Zach Shearman was granted $500 towards costs of travelling with the Under16/14 NZ Basketball Association

team, to tour to Los Vegas USA in July.Presentations:Members of the Kapiti Youth Council spoke of some of the events planned for 2014, including a Youth Fest with a bus provided to take Otaki’s young people to Paraparaumu. The funding options available were Youth2U Dollars - grants up to $500 and Think Big group applications up to $1000 to assist with workshops for the 14-24 age group. Also advised were KYS, free medical services for young people, a youth hui on April 1 at Nga Purapura Otaki, planning for a youth centre in Paraparaumu – though more activities for Otaki youth rather than a centre and preparation of a submission to the KCDC Annual Plan. It was noted there are currently no Otaki representatives on the youth council.Otaki Digital Campus: Otaki Education Trust member, Rachel Selby spoke to the Board on progress of setting up the Digital Campus between the six schools within Otaki, Waitohu, Otaki and St Peter Chanel, Otaki College, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O te Rito and Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, noting there are 1060 children attending schools within the Otaki township. All children, from about year 3/4 up, will be provided with an iPad

– chrome book, which parents will pay for over one to three years.“The project will enhance childrens educational achievement,” Ms Selby said. Noted too, was the work being done to produce programmes in te reo as currently there are no Maori language education programmes on the internet.Alistair Sutton, Zone 4 Community Board executive representative, introduced himself to the Board. Mr Cootes explained community board members from all boards in the Zone 4 region met together, sometimes with specific issues.Other Issues:Request for a pedestrian crossing between the beach dairy and west side of Moana Street for children crossing signs on Tasman Road prior to the Byron Brown’s bend. Annual Plan workshops: No increase in landfill charges, Kapiti charges are currently below the national average. GWRC says electrification of rail to Otaki is not on their 30-35 year plan, though doesn’t stop changes being made earlier.Other: Reduced Main Street parking limits: parking limit between the video shop and ANZ Bank, from180 minutes to just 30, needs a letter from the retailers to the council requesting the change.

Otaki Community Board - March meeting

CorrectionLast month we misreported Elisabeth Mikkelsen on cycling issues. What she actually said was: “Kapiti Coast Cycling and Walking Pathway was supposed to reach Otaki and was begun in 2000 and that Otaki Rotary initiated the Trust that in cooperation with KCDC produced the lovely pathways at Paraparaumu Beach.” We noted “The south bank pathway is usable but crosses Maori land and has been fenced over.” She actually said: "The new pathway runs between the end of Te Waka Road to the south bank through farmland purchased by KCDC. There is no gate/access for cycling yet and the pathway is not fenced. (It definitely does not run through Maori land). " The errors are regretted. Editor

Rotary and Friends of the Otaki River on a planting spree

April is a HUGE month in our calendar

Daylight saving finishes on Sunday 6 April and our

popular Sunday roast is back at noon and includes dessert

Thursday 17th POPPY DAY

if you have an hour to spare please ring the office

Friday 18th Closed all day

Monday 21st Open at 2pm

Friday 25th ANZAC DAY

6am Dawn Parade

5pm Retreat Service

all meals (including breakfast) during the day $10.00

Restaurant open for breakfast after Dawn Parade,

(returned people complimentary breakfast)

lunch from 12 noon – 1.30pm and

dinner from 5.30pm – 7pm

The Otaki RSA Poppy Trust is registered with the Charities Commission

OTAKI RSA


Rooms available for hire at reasonable rates

• Free, Confidential Service• Legal & Employment Issues• Benefit Entitlements• Consumer Rights• Housing

• Human Rights• Health• Personal Problems• Neighbourhood issues• Transport issues

Health Shuttle bookings - Tel: 364 5603Free 20-minute legal appointment

JP available by arrangement Hearing clinic pre-arranged appointments

Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 3.00 pm 65a Main Street, Otaki Village (next to the swing park by the Memorial Hall)Tel 06 364 8664 or 0800 367 222Email [email protected] www.cab.org.nz

Te Pou Whakawhirinaki o OtakiOur advice is free and confidential, not getting it could cost you though. If you know your rights, less can go wrong. If not sure, ask us!We have the information to help you with your problems, or can point you in the right direction. Call or see us -

Otaki Historical Society

Otaki Museum

Otaki’s History

Edhouse’s StoreNZ Post (Otaki)Otaki MuseumCaltex Service Station (SH1)Railway Bookshop (Main St)

per copy$25

From the Otaki Mail, Monday March 10, 1924

Otaki HistoricalJournal2013

Disputes could arise from a range of issues such as neighbourhood problems on trees, fences and boundary rights, Consumer rights, issues between landlord and tenant, Telecommunication issues and others. To deal with disputes, here are some Tips on how to complain effectively:1. Know your rights – What are your rights in this situation?

Find out before you go back.2. Complain to the person you first deal with – This may

resolve the problem without having to take it any further.3. Don’t delay – Act now before you forget the important stuff.

Sometimes there’s a time limit for making a complaint.4. Be reasonable – When you are asking for something to be put

right make sure what you’re asking for is fair.5. Use evidence – Take any evidence related to your complaint

e.g., receipts, letters.6. Prepare – Practice what you are going to say. Consider

taking someone along to support you.7. Keep cool – Keep calm and remember your manners – this

will get you further than if you don’t.8. Escalate – If talking to them doesn’t help, ask to talk to their

manager or supervisor.9. Make sure they can contact you – If someone is going to

follow up your complaint, make sure that they have your contact details, and you have theirs!

10. Writing a formal letter of complaint can help – If talking with them doesn’t sort out the problem, putting your complaint in writing can help.

How to write a letter of complaint - Some simple tips for an effective letter:

• Say that you are making a complaint• Explain what the problem is i.e. the reason why you’re

complaining• Explain what you want them to do to fix the problem• Give them a deadline for replying to your complaint• Attach copies of evidence (make sure you keep the originals)

If you’re not confident about writing a letter of complaint, we can help you with this.Stuck in a dispute?You’ve followed our tips for making a complaint, but you’re still stuck? A disputes service may be able to help. • We can help you find the appropriate disputes service, if

there is one.• Don’t delay – some disputes services have deadlines for

using them.• Understand the role of the disputes service – they are not

consumer advocates, their role is to find a solution which is fair to everyone involved.

• Find out how the process works – will you have to attend a hearing or will it be resolved over the phone? Will decisions be binding?

• Prepare your case – make sure you have the evidence to back you up, and know what you want the outcome to be.

It doesn’t matter what your question is, we will help, and if we can’t help you directly, we’ll find someone who can.

You don’t need an appointment, just drop into your local bureau, call or email us or go online to www.cab.org.nz.

Not Sure How To Deal With A Dispute?

A combination of actor and author that attract the attention of the most fastidious of motion picture followers will provide a distinct treat as an entertainment comes to the Lyric pictures next Wednesday, with Tom Mix, the William Fox star and Zane Grey, the noted American fiction writer.... Miss Billie Dove, the beautiful Ziegfeld Follies dancer, plays the feminine lead.... The production was staged in the

heart of Texas. Some specially selected supporting films accompany “The Lone Star Ranger” and include a Sunshine Comedy, “The Explorers” which stars Harry Sweet.... The eighth chapter of the “Radio King” serial, is packed with thrills and is entitled “The Master Wave”. The ever popular Fox news and the Lyric orchestra in incidental musical numbers provide a fine night’s entertainment.

LYRIC PICTURES

“THE LONE STAR RANGER”

Next Wednesday

The next talk will be on Tuesday 1 April 2014 at 7.30 pm at the Rotary Hall, Aotaki Street. The speaker will be John Barrett. He will talk about Kapiti Island’s settlement history and the present-day activities on this unique island sanctuary. The

island’s development as a nature reserve is one of New Zealand’s most successful models for wildlife and flora conservation. John’s talk will be an opportunity to hear about the care that is being taken of this special place by his family.

The last day for the current exhibition, “Arohanui Te Rā ō Waitangi”, is 29 March. An exhibition celebrating Rotary’s fifty years in Otaki will be open from Saturday 5 March 2014,

and will run until the end of June. Otaki Museum is at 49 Main Street and is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm.

This month we have an image from the exhibition “Arohanui Te Rā ō Waitangi”. Rangi Topeora signed the Treaty of Waitangi at Kapiti. A composer, singer and orator, she was the daughter of Waitohi, Her mother was Waitohi, of Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa, and her father Te Ra-ka-herea. Her hapu were Ngāti Kimihia and Ngāti Te Maunu. She was the sister of Rangihaeata and niece of Te Rauparaha.


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

Angela Ford BVM&S MRCVS MACVScOtaki Veterinary Centre

Clinic Hours:Mon - Fri 8.30 - 5.00 pmTuesday 8.30 - 6.00 pm

Saturday 9 - 12 noon

269 Mill Road, Otaki06 364 [email protected] Ford BVM&S MRCVS MACVScEmma @ Jo - Veterinary nurses

Otaki Veterinary Centre

Mobile Vet service - we come to you 24 Hrs advice and emergency service - Ring 364 6941

Microchips scanned at no cost and replaced for free if required

If you have an older dog or cat, you might have noticed the odd lump or bump. This may or may not be a serious issueA lump could be merely a skin tag, a harmless growth of skin, or a cyst that commonly forms in the skin as a result of abnormal hair follicle growth. We also commonly see benign tumours of the sebaceous gland that look warty in character and are particularly common in poodle type breeds. Fatty lumps, also known as lipomas are common

and appear as soft painless swellings often over the chest wall or flank. Generally these benign lumps require no treatment unless they are in an awkward position on the animal.However some lumps can be very serious and things are often not as they seem. It can be risky to ‘guess’ what a lump is just on basis of how it looks or feels. Some common misconceptions are that if the lump is

painless or loosely attached that is benign. Soft tissue sarcomas, melanomas and mast cell tumours are usually painless, soft and free moving but are nasty

malignant tumours which spread quickly throughout the body. . They can often be mistaken for harmless fatty lumps. Treatment is surgical removal with wide margins, so diagnosing these tumours while they are still small is important. So the message is to have any lumps checked and tested. A biopsy can be simply a matter of drawing off some cells with a needle or in some

cases we might need to take a small wedge of tissue to send to the laboratory. If the result shows it is benign, then you’ll have peace of mind and you wont need to worry further

Things Are Not Always What They Seem

The fourth New Zealand and Australian edition of this guide reveals the secrets to growing, nurturing and using hundreds of plants from alfalfa to zucchini and everything in between under four broad categories: fruit, nuts, vegetables and herbs. Gouldstone provides advice on how and where to plant, how to protect your food-bearing plants from pests and weather, and how to harvest and even dish up your backyard bounty.

The Ultimate Food Gardenby Selby Gouldstone

Kauri: Witness to a Nation’s History

by Joanna OrwinFrom commodity for exploitation to object

of awe, the kauri and its story lie at the heart of New Zealand’s own story. Kauri: Witness to a Nation’s History takes us back to the tree’s ancient origins. We read about Maori myth surrounding the tree, and about the white-skinned mariners who sailed up to harvest timber for their own ‘giant birds’: the great naval ships of Europe. The tree’s presence looms over the colonial period and beyond, and is the very stuff from which the flagpoles at Waitangi were carved (as well as some of the country’s finest architectural treasures and modern works of art). The book charts the growth of the conservation movement, and presents the modern-day issues that affect the tree, such as Maori guardianship and tourism versus protection.

Where the Rēkohu Bone Sings

by Tina Makereti

Where the Rēkohu Bone Sings is Kapiti Coast author Tina Makereti’s first novel. In the 1880s, Mere yearns for independence. Iraia wants the same but, as the descendant of a slave, such things are hardly conceivable. One summer, they notice their friendship has changed, but if they are ever to experience freedom they will need to leave their home in the Queen Charlotte Sound. A hundred years later, Lula and Bigs are born. The birth is literally one in a million, as their mother, Tui, likes to say. When Tui dies, they learn there is much she kept secret and they, too, will need to travel beyond their world, to an island they barely knew existed. Neither Mere and Iraia nor Lula and Bigs are aware that someone else is part of their journeys. He does not watch over them so much as through them, feeling their loss and confusion as if it were his own.

Balancing Act

by Joanna Trollope

Susie Moran is a success. She has founded and run her own highly profitable company, and now her three daughters are all involved in the business. Rooted in the traditions of the Stoke-on-Trent potteries, and producing charming, useable objects of distinctive design, Susie is justly proud of her family and her achievement – and has no intention of letting it change. But what of the men in the family? Susie’s husband, a musician and artist, has always seemed happy to take a back seat. One of her sons-in-law has few ambitions outside the home. Another daughter, though, has brought her husband into the company - and they want to change things, much to Susie’s distress. And then, into the mix, arrives Susie’s father, an ageing hippy


Handy Folk to Know

Computer Problems?Professional help with all computerissues for the home & small business

Local support for computer issues such as:• Internetproblems• Slowcomputer• Wirelessnetworks/setupandsupport• Computerrepairsandupgrades• Newcomputersetup&customisation• Virusandmalwareclean-up• TV/stereo/hometheatreinstallation

Business services:• Newcomputersetup• Supportofexistingsystemsandperipherals

Before you replace your computer, talk to me, an upgrade or repair may be a fraction of the cost of a replacement

Michael LudlamSystems Engineer

m:021 160 5929a/h:063640159e:[email protected]

Honest, reliable & professional help

PARAPARAUMU TAXIS364 0500FreePhone 0800 508 294Extended Otaki Coverage HoursTuesday - Friday 9.30am - 3.30pm

Kapiti Coast’s PREMIER Taxi ServiceCOURTESY & CAREEFTPOS Total Mobility & Snapper Cards Accepted

For all Kerbing, Paving, Floors, DrivesPaths and Concrete Work

FREE QUOTESPhone Craig Howell

027 448 0447 * After hours: 06 364 6064Window & Door RepairsI fix all Doors, Windows & Conservatories

Call Mike WatsonFree 0800 620 720or Otaki 364 8886

Find me at: www.windowseal.co.nzOr like at: facebook.com/windowseal

Locks * Rollers Handles * Stays Glass * Leaks Draughts * Seals

SAVE$$$$

www.jsroofing.co.nz 0800 577 663 06 364 6406Email enquiries: [email protected]

3 Arthur Sreet, Otaki 06 364 7495

COLLING & GRAYOtaki

Panelbeaters & Spray Painters•Spray Booth•Chassis Machine•Chassis Straightening•Rust Repair•Crash Repair

•Plastic Welding•24 hour Towing & Salvage•All Insurance Work•Farm Equipment Repaired•Competitive Prices

Talk to us about your automotive, marine, cabinet colour and furniture paint work.

Justin WillPh: 027 467 2063

A/Hrs: 06 364 5586Email: [email protected]

•WOFsandLUBES•LightEngineering&Welding• LifestyleTractor&EquipmentRepairs•ClassicCarRepairs

Automotive & EngineeringNZHRA approved engineerQualified Diesel Mechanic

38 years experience

Barry Sutton

364 332234 Sutton Rd, Te Horo

027 556 9255

•Earthmoving/Aggregate•DrainageSiteWorks/SectionClearing•DriveWaysExcavation/Tarseal/HotMix•TopSoil/FarmRoads

Phone: 0274 443 041or 0274 401 738

Appiance RepairsAppliance Rescue 364 3098

AutomotiveAll Things Automotive 364 8158Central Auto Services 368 2037Colling & Gray 364 7495SRS Automotive Engineering 364 3322

Auto TyresAll Things Automotive 364 8158

Beauty ServicesYouBeauty 364 7003

Computer ServicingComputer Problems 021 160 5929

Carpet CleaningBloxham Superclean 364 6777

CleaningHire a Buddy 04 902 5476

Chimney CleaningBloxham Superclean 364 6777

Concrete WorkCraig Howell 364 6064Bevan Concrete 0800 427522

ContractorsRasmac Contractors 0274 443 041

ElectricalDSR Electrical 027 511 4746Hartley Electrical Ltd 364 2070

FirewoodWood Splitter 027 447 3371

Funeral DirectorsHarvey Bowler 368 2954I.C. Mark Ltd 368 8108Kapiti Coast Funeral Home 04 298 5168Waikanae Funeral Home 04 293 6844

Garden Plants100 & 1 Garden & House Plants - Aotiki StTalisman 06 364 5893Trinity Farm 06 364 6194

Watsons Garden Centre 06 364 6836

Kapiti Coast District CouncilGeneral Inquiries 06 364 9301Toll Free 0800 486 486Otaki Library 364 9317Otaki Swimming Pool 364 5542

LawnmowersMr Green 04 293 8742The Lawn Moa Company 364 6771

LawyerMcLaren’s Law Office 364 7190Simpson & Co 364 7285

LocksmithMobile Locksmith 021 073 5955Pest ControlProtekt Pest Control 364 5759

Pet StaysJacaranda Country Lodge 362 6900

PlumberHenderson Plumbing 364 5252Ryan Plumbing & Gas fitting 027 243 6451About Plumbing 364 5586

RooferRyan Roofing 027 243 6451 362 6595JS ROOFING 06 364 6406

TaxiParaparaumu Taxis 364 0500Kapiti Shuttles 04 902 5476

Tool SharpeningMower & Engineering 364 5411

Truck MaintenanceOtaki Truck Services Ltd 364 0160

Veterinary ServicesOtaki Veterinary Centre 364 6941Otaki Animal Health 364 7089

Window & Door RepairsMike Watson 364 8886

Waikanae HypnotherapyStop Smoking Naturally!

Weight, Anxiety, Fears, Addictions, Nail Biting And MORE!

NANCY JOHNSON, Ph.D.04 905 4336 021 255 6743

[email protected]

Practicing since 1990

• Local (Otaki)• 20 Years Experience• Friendly Professional Service• Owner/Operator (NOT an employee)• $60 (Sweep & Safety Check)

Phone Roger – 364 6777 (anytime)

Fancy a game of Chess?

Young man new to Te Horo Beach is looking for someone who could come and give him a game occasionally.

He is 26years old, often housebound due to ill health so the odd visitor now and again would be much appreciated.

You don't have to be good, just willing

If you think you can help then please ring Christine on 364 2476.


Plumbing Gasfitting

0272 436 451 06 362 6595

• Residental• Commercial• SolarHotWaterSystems

• Wetbacks• Woodburners

Manakau

• Newandre-roofing• Longruncoloursteel• P.V.C&ColoursteelSpouting• RepairsandMaintenance• FlashingFabrication• SheetmetalWork

Roofing

Covering

Kapiti Coast - Levin•plumbing•roofs&spouting•newhomes•drainage•maintenence•freeadviceandquotes

All Plumbing Services

Tel: 063645252Fax: 063645254Cell:0274485658POBox217,[email protected]:

Henderson Plumbing & Bathrooms

Birthright Op Shop23 Matene Street, Otaki

Monday – Friday 10am – 4pmSaturday 10am – 1pm

Birthright (Otaki) IncIt takes a village to raise a childSupporting One Parent Families

Birthright Centre12 Rangatira Street, Otaki

is open daily from9am – 12 noon * Monday – Friday

To make an appointment to visit with our fieldworker contact us on 06 364 5558

Good/Used clothing for saleBaby clothing $1Children’s clothing $2Adult clothing $3

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

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

MAIN ROAD SOUTH, LEVINK.S. McFadyen & I.J. Buckley Ltd

FULL DIESEL REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

All C.O.F. WorkTransport & General Engineering

Tel: 06/368 2037 or 06/368 1591 (24hrs)

CENTRALAUTOMOTIVE

SERVICES

Otaki Animal Health Veterinary ClinicFor rural & domestic animals large & small

33 Dunstan Street, OtakiTelephone: 06 364 7089After hours: 021 469 838

Come and meet our friendly team:Graham and Maria our vets

and Emily and Nicole our nurses

FIREWOOD2 cubic metres Pine $160

Macrocarpa $200Free local delivery

ph 06 364 0236

3 Arthur St, Otaki Phone 06 364 7495

COLLING & GRAY OTAKI – PANELBEATERS & SPRAY PAINTING

• Spray Booth• Chassis Machine• Chassis Straightening• Rust Repair• Crash Repair• Plastic Welding• 24 hour Towing & Salvage• All Insurance Work• Farm Equipment Repaired• Competitive Prices

Talk to us about your automotive, marine, cabinet colour and furniture paint work.

Attacked by Fence Post?




meadows

Children's Programme available / www.meadows.org.nz

churchevery sunday 11am*memorial hall81 main street, otakiSunday 20th April – 10am - Combined Easter Sunday Service*

Meadows Kapiti, 1 Realm Drive, Paraparaumu

The Kāpiti Coast Youth Council has cash to give away to young people through Youth2U Dollars.

Youth2U Dollars is a grant scheme set up by the Kāpiti Coast Youth Council to help young people develop their skills, hobbies and interests.

Up to $300 is available for individuals and $500 for groups to help pay for things like sports trips and gear, music lessons, school camps and training programmes. Young people with ideas for developing a business can also apply.Applicants must live between Ōtaki and Paekākāriki, be 12 to 24 years old, be committed to their activity or idea, and have already tried to raise funds.

“To get a Youth2U grant you don't have to be top of your field, just passionate about what you do and wanting to take your hobby, interest or good idea further and reach your potential” says youth council member Cameron Wislang.

The grants recipients will be announced at a ceremony for them and their families, to be held during Youth Week,17-25 May 2014.“This will be an opportunity for young achievers in Kāpiti to be recognized by other young people in their community,” says Cameron.

The 2014 Youth2U Dollars grants process is open until 4pm on 17 April 2014. People wanting to apply can get a form from libraries, service centres, facebook.com/kcyouthcouncil

or www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/youth

Otaki Churches welcome youActs ChurchesThe HUB Tel: 364 6911157 Tasman Rd, Otaki10.30 am (Family service)6.00 pm (Youth service)

BaptistTel: 364 8540Cnr Te Manuao Road/SH110.00 am service

PresbyterianTel: 06 364 6346249 Mell Rd, OtakiWorship: 11 amCafe Church:2nd Sun 10.45 am

Community ChurchTel: 364 001217 Waerenga RoadSunday School: 9-10amFamily Service: 10.30 am

River Life Family ChurchSunday Service: 10.30 amWaitohu School hall

meadows churchEvery Sunday: 11 amMemorial Hall,81 Main Street, Otaki

Rev Ian Campbell Tel: 364 7099All Saints. Te Rauparaha St8 am and 10.30 amSt Margarets, School Rd9 amSt Andrews9 am (Except 1st Sun of Month)Rangiatea Church Services37 Te Rauparaha StSunday Eucharist: 9 amChurch Viewing Hours:Mon-Fri (9.30am - 1.30pm)Tel: 364 6838Email: [email protected] Church - Poutu MaraeShannon/Foxton Highway3rd Sunday 11.30amNgatokowaru MaraeHokio Beach Road4th Sunday 11am St Mary’s “Pukekaraka”4 Convent RoadWeekend Mass, Sat 5.30pmSunday 10.30amSt. StephensSunday 8.30am(every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month)

Anglican

Otaki:

Te Horo:

Manakau:

Otaki:

Shannon:

Levin:

CatholicOtaki:

Kuku:





By MARGARET ANDREWS

Twelve brave souls lost their hair in a sponsored hair cutting session at Otaki College, all for a very good cause and hoping to raise $5000 for their efforts.This is the second year Otaki Col-lege students have held the Shave for a Cure appeal to raise funds for the Blood Cancers and Leukaemia Foun-dation. This year’s event was organ-ised by Shenee Nicholson, a member of the student leadership team. With a majority of the heads for shaving being of the “woolly haired” male gender, the girls definitely sacrificed the greatest amount of hair, all three losing their long tresses!Putting her hair on the line, Shenee raised over $1100 in sponsorship to

lose her long locks to the razor,

she now wears a number two style! Chelsea Temperton-Allan shed a few tears as her tresses fell to the razor, but all for a good cause as she was sponsored for over $600 for her loss. But, probably the bravest candidate had to be parent, Andrea Sturmey, who her sacrificed her very long hair, after growing it for five years. She was sponsored for more than $500 to have it off. She is donating her hair to Dunedin’s Freedom Hair company, which make wigs and hair pieces for cancer patients.Joining Ms Sturmey on the “hair chop-ping” chair, was her husband, Police Sergeant Slade Sturmey, College principal Andy Fraser, teacher Ricki Baker and new caretaker, Colin Rice.Wielding the razors, this year, were Ann Higgs and Angela Harper from

Chairs Hair Design, who donated their time for the appeal.To help with fund raising, fellow students & parents made gold coin donation to support those undergoing the loss of their hair. They encouraged, cheered and applauded those brave enough to put themselves under the razor.Mr Fraser reminded the students, that while watching the razors at work was at time “amusing” it was for a serious cause and that most of them would have had someone in their wider fami-ly or friends who had cancer and many would have lost their hair through the medical treatment they needed.A final count of the funds raised was not available before press time.

A smiling group now, but many were not smiling as the hairdresser's razors shaved off their hair a little earlier. Among those sporting new hairstyles were front row: parents Slade and Andrea Sturmey, student Chelsea Temperton-Allan, teacher Ricki Baker, event organiser Shenee Nicholson and caretaker, Colin Rice. Back row are the four Manakau boys with principal Andy Fraser. Top: Chairs Hair Design’s razor operators, Ann Higgs and Angela Harper.

Twelve Brave Bald Shaven Souls

With a push and a splash, they’re on their way in the year six girls backstroke event during the Waitohu School picnic. The children and their families had a wonderful time swimming.“A beautiful, beautiful day,” principal Maine Curtis said. The weather made for a perfect picnic day at the outdoor Waikanae Pool, held at the end of February.

Waitohu School at Waikanae pool

OTAKI POLICE FOUND PROPERTY Item where dateCash Rangiuru Road 18/06/13Kids Scooter Countdown Otaki Jan-June 2013Nokia Cellphone Countdown Otaki Jan-June 2013Skinny Cellphone Countdown Otaki Jan-June 2013Watch Countdown Otaki Jan-June 2013Womens gold ring Kapiti Pak ‘n’ Save 17/07/13w sapphire/diamonds 2 x childrens bicycles Tasman Road 07/08/13Mens wrist watch Aotaki Street 16/08/13paper bag - gift items Te Rauparaha St 03/09/13Mountain Bike & disco ball Moana Street 07/09/13backpack - video games Main Street Otaki 25/09/13Water pump and fittings Rangatira Street 04/10/13gold and diamond rings Tasman Road 06/11/13 White marble figurine Otaki Beach 18/11/13

to reclaim any of these objects, contact Otaki Police

On Friday 07 March the children and whānau of Ōtaki Playcentre were impressed to find that our local beach was so clean and tidy there was hardly anything to clean up.

Out on their Playcentre Awareness Week Good Clean Fun event, despite a thorough look around, only half a bucket of rubbish was collected. Instead the event soon turned into a relaxing picnic and play-in-the-sand and paddle-in-the-surf kind of morning.

The beach trip was supposed to teach the children the importance of keeping our community clean and tidy and the lesson was not lost. “We

were able to talk about why there was no rubbish and how great it is that people are taking care of our beach” said centre president Nancy Neale.

Playcentre is a New Zealand idea that started in 1941. Instrumental in development of the concept of education through child-initiated play, this philosophy has since been adopted across all New Zealand early childhood centres through Te Whāriki, the national curriculum for early childhood education. A core principle of Playcentre is that children learn best when surrounded by trusted members of the community. Ōtaki Playcentre is one of the oldest centres and for almost seventy years Ōtaki families have been growing together and learning through play.

Nancy invites people with

under-fives to come and check Playcentre out. “We run sessions from 9.30am until noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time. We don’t have open days as we are always happy for people to pop in and have a look around whenever suits. We have a great mix of kids from six months to almost five and it would be lovely to have another couple of families join us in 2014”.

Playcentre encourages and supports members to train towards the free NZQA-approved Playcentre Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education. For more information check out the Ōtaki Playcentre Facebook page or call them on 06 364 5787 during session times.

Ōtaki Beach too clean for Playcentre beach cleanup !

Albie Cameron from Otaki Playcentre can't find any rubbish to clean up, but finds the shells quite interesting.

lonely planet lauds otaki kite...

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