Newsline 260 - 23 September 2011

Friday 23 September 2011

Read articles from the September 23 version of Newsline.

Download Newsline as a PDF: Newsline 260 - 23 September 2011

Hoddy Estuary Park Nears Completion

After nearly ten years of fundraising and hard work, Hoddy Estuary Park is ready to be handed over to the Council and will soon be open to the public. In 2003, the 4.9 hectare block which adjoins the Waimea Estuary on the Appleby Coast looked set to be developed for housing, following the closure of the Appleby Research Orchard.

However, a group of private individuals led by Tasman resident Peter Owen decided to form a charitable trust – the Hoddy Estuary Park Trust – to preserve the area as a public reserve. Many individuals and organisations have contributed money, time, labour and materials to the project over the years. This has included a significant monetary donation by local orchardists the Hoddy family, following the passing of Peter Hoddy, a highly respected orchardist and innovator who grew up within sight of the land. The Trust subsequently decided it would be appropriate to name the park after him.

Tasman District Council is a partner in the project and has contributed funding of $55,000 as well as providing advice and guidance to the project team. The Canterbury Community Trust and Lottery Grants Board have also provided funding, together with a number of individual donors. Hoddy Estuary Park Trust chair Simon Jones says the park has been created to be a place of beauty and tranquillity for the public to enjoy. It features a lake with a boardwalk and viewing platforms, a large grassed meadow area with native plantings and picnic benches. It also includes a wetland area which will provide habitat for endangered species such as the Banded Rail.

“It’s one of the very few places where the public can access the Waimea Estuary and in time, we hope there will also be connections with the proposed estuary walkway,” Simon says.

Work on the site has included the removal of noxious plants, native tree plantings over several years, trapping to provide protection for native species, fencing and the development of a public toilet, boardwalk and carparking. Simon says it’s great to see the project now approaching completion. At its meeting in October, Council will consider accepting the transfer of the Hoddy Estuary Park into Council ownership. If Council accepts the proposal, an official opening date for the park will be advised and the Trust will continue to be involved with the management of the reserve in an advisory role.

To stay informed about the latest news on Hoddy Estuary Park developments, email hoddy@jals.co.nz with your details and you’ll be added to the mailing list. Details of the opening will also be published in Newsline.

Mayor’s Comment

As you may have read recently the Council’s CEO has resigned to take a similar position for the Buller District Council with a possible leaving date yet to be finalised. This unforeseen move at this time raised a number of questions for the Council to debate.

Central to the debate was the timing and associated costs of any decision against the essential and continued need to maintain the delivery of services to the District regardless of the uncertainty brought about by the amalgamation debate. After a lengthy discussion the Council decided to advertise for a new CEO. The mechanics, timing and costs of this and a clear picture of the sort of person we are looking to fill the role will have been discussed by the time this edition of Newsline is delivered. I have no doubt there will be significant media coverage.

We recognise that between Paul leaving and a new CEO being appointed there will be a need for the role to be filled. As a result while the recruitment process is underway we will be appointing an acting CEO from within existing staff. As the Council is a very lean operation this situation is not ideal in the long term, especially in a time where delivery and direction will be essential.

I have complete confidence the management and staff of the Council will continue to deliver excellent services through these challenging times and the elected members will provide direction and support for this to occur. – Mayor Richard Kempthorne

On Yer Bike – Mapua Celebrates With a Picnic

Mapua will hold a giant picnic on Sunday 2 October 2011 to celebrate the start of the bike-ferry service to Rabbit Island, and revellers are encouraged to cycle to the fun.

The event will also be a chance to enjoy the new amphitheatre on the Mapua waterfront, which is part of the park now under construction. The ferry will cross back and forth from 9.30 am until 5.30 pm (with a break from 11.45 am to 1.00 pm for the official ceremony). Fares for this event will be a gold-coin donation. Organisers hope people will ride from Richmond, Motueka or even Nelson. Alternatively, you can drive to Rabbit Island, unload your bikes and enjoy the new cycle trails to the ferry.

Music, food, entertainment and fancy dress are also on the menu for a family day and at 12 noon, the new 12m ferry will be officially christened ‘The Flat Bottom Fairy’. Mapua business promoter Janet Taylor says children and adults are welcome to dress up as fairies, with spot prizes on offer. (She’d love to see a few brave blokes in tutus as well). Janet says the Flat Bottom Fairy will make commuting to Richmond much more feasible for Mapua residents – with no hills in the way. Richmond’s cycle trails have so far reached the MDF plant on the estuary foreshore and are planned to link Richmond to Rabbit Island in the near future.

“The opening of the ferry is a key moment in the development of Tasman’s Great Taste Trail – I’m really excited,” says Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust chairman David Bonnett.

“The ferry crossing is a unique feature for any trail on the New Zealand Cycle Trail Network and really helps Tasman’s Great Taste Trail stand out from the crowd. From a national and international marketing perspective I’m sure it will be a big draw card and I’m delighted that the residents and businesses of Mapua have embraced the opportunity. It’s really encouraging for the Trust to see that the work that we and Tasman District Council have put in is making a real social and economic difference to the communities around the District.”

“For cyclists coming from the Motueka direction, the Ruby Coast road is a quiet ride since the bypass opened, and there are several little-known cycle trails that will be publicised in a map to be distributed to visitors at the ferry launch. Picnickers are also welcome to explore the cafes, shops and other attractions of Mapua,” says Janet.

Nesting Birds Vulnerable

Birds are nesting at the moment, making them easy targets for predators, including domestic pets. On the Motueka Sandspit and other beaches in the Tasman District, godwits exhausted by their 11,000km flight from Alaska have been harassed, particularly by people riding motorbikes and horses, or walking their dogs.

The Department of Conservation says dogs running loose on sandy beaches, especially at high tide, can disturb flocks of migrant waders. Owners are legally obliged to prevent their pet harassing wildlife.

Tasman District Council requires that dogs are under effective control at all times, and that dogs are put on a leash in circumstances were they could injure, endanger, or cause distress to protected wildlife. Conservation groups also ask that dogs be put on a lead when walking in wetlands and on beaches. Concern from DOC and the Council is likely to lead to new initiatives on the Motueka Sandspit, including new signage, updated information boards and getting local Sandspit users involved in finding better ways to care for and protect the birds.

One great community initiative is the Welcome to the Godwits celebration on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September 2011, at the Memorial Hall in Motueka. This is a free event. Displays, speakers and slide-shows will tell the story of the godwits’ non-stop migration. Stands will provide information from groups such as Forest & Bird, the Ornithological Society, Department of Conservation,Tasman District Council and local schools. Competitions include photography and art using the broad topic, “Motueka Sandspit and Estuary.”

On Sunday 25 September 2011, a viewing of godwits will take place at the old wharf on Motueka Quay at 2.00 pm.

New Walkway Planting

Busy Golden Bay volunteer group Coast Care will be planting alongside the new Council walkway/cycleway in Pohara on Saturday 24 September 2011, starting at 10.00 am. The planting is to enhance the walkway and the wetland reserve the boardwalk goes through. The $340,000 walkway connects the campground with the Pohara hall, and was opened in August 2010.

Coast Care has had nine foreshore planting days in the last two months. Tasman District Council supports it through funding from the development impact levy, which pays for materials. Volunteers plant 400-800 seedlings at a time, with a coffee and muffin to finish off, says group leader Rob Lewis. To take part in the Planting Bee, meet at the end of Golf links Road at 10.00 am, bring a spade, refreshments will be provided. For information contact Rob on 03 525 6183.

Netball Ace and Carols in a Woolshed

Motueka resident Beverley Clementson has given more than half a century to netball. She started playing as a 10-year-old and was umpiring whilst still at high school. Beverley was in Nelson rep teams for half a dozen years and continued playing into her mid-40s. She then concentrated on umpiring, teaching other umpires, and filling administration roles, finally stepping down two seasons ago. She also umpired basketball and in younger days played tennis and table tennis.

Beverley marches to a different tune now – specifically the Veteranettes leisure marching team, which she established in 1996. They are off to Timaru at the end of October 2011 for a South Island-wide gathering of leisure marching teams. In a way the marching combines her two loves, sport and music. A keen singer, she was a regular in Motueka Operatic Society productions for two decades. Beverley is a longtime Meals On Wheels driver and volunteer at the Motueka Museum. She also used to help out at Woodlands Rest Home, often runs people to Nelson Hospital or other trips for medical purposes, and donates jams, pickles and knitting to those in need. “At the moment I’m flat-out knitting” – for family reasons this time: the arrival of her first great-grandchild. The mother-of-four already has a respectable muster of 14 grandchildren.

Beverly Dyke thinks she received her Outstanding Community Service Award for the Christmas show she and husband Ernie have put on each December for the last 23 years at their Upper Moutere property. They clear out a “pretty rundown old woolshed”, bring in a few sheep and gather the Motueka town band, church choirs and the Sisterhood quartet for some good old-fashioned carol singing. It has become a major event on the local calendar, drawing about 180 people.

“We get them from all over the place. It’s amazing.”

Bev is also convenor of the annual Spring Festival in Motueka, instigated by the Salvation Army some 25 years ago but now involving four churches. She is an outstanding quilter and is currently president of the Motueka Quilting Connection group, which puts on a show at the Upper Moutere Community Centre each year. Bev was convenor of the show for 16 years, and also teaches machine quilting.

How Does Your Home Rate?

Tasman/Nelson homeowners will soon be able to have their house rated for performance in comfort, health and energy-efficiency – with a potential boost in property value.

The Homestar scheme grants a score of 1-10 stars, and local assessor Aaryn Barlow says that in Australia each star has been found to increase the property value up to 3.5%. Homes that are efficient and perform well can now verify this with Homestar and command a premium on the market. But the real value of the scheme lies in giving us healthier homes. At the national launch of Homestar last year, it was estimated that a million Kiwi homes could be improved. A taste of Homestar is available online at www.homestar.org.nz The questionnaire takes about 20 minutes to complete, but Aaryn says that for a rating with legal standing, houses needs an official Homestar assessment.

He will call at your home for a four-hour audit of insulation, glazing, heating, solar gain, water conservation, waste minimisation and even the section’s potential for gardening. His report provides recommendations plus the all-important star rating, which can become part of your LIM report. Aaryn, who is based at the Nelson Environment Centre, says the audit costs $400-$600. He can also see a Homestar audit appealing to buyers checking out a property, and is keen to work alongside builders and architects, to incorporate good design from the word go.

Household appliance shoppers now take note of such energy-use ratings, and Aaryn feels that once Homestar gains acceptance in the market, it will lift the overall performance of our housing. He has a background in environmental science and household sustainability, and has just finished training for the Homestar scheme, which is an initiative of the building industry, with full support from the Government and local Councils.

Waste Minimisation and Management – Working With Nelson City Council

Under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, Councils are required to complete a “Waste Assessment” and to update their Waste Management and Minimisation Plan in support of the vision of the New Zealand Waste Strategy. Tasman District and Nelson City chose to complete a joint waste assessment and this is now available.

Tasman-Nelson Waste Assessment Strategy

The two Councils are currently developing a joint Waste Minimisation and Management Plan. The plan will set out the Councils’ vision, objectives, policies and methods for waste management in the Nelson-Tasman region. The methods outlined in the plan will feed into the Councils’ asset management and long term planning.

The public will have the opportunity to provide input to this plan during the consultation process commencing early November 2011. Joint hearings to consider submissions to the plan are planned for early in 2012 and will be communicated via Newsline and Council’s Updates in the local newspapers.

Summer Water Metering Begins Soon

This message is for holders of water permits (e.g. industry and irrigators) in the Tasman District who are subject to water metering. It is a reminder that weekly meter readings are required from and including 31 October 2011. For those consent holders who advised Council last season about no water use, and if this situation will continue, you will need to ‘renew’ this advice if you haven’t done so already. Council will send out a pre-season letter to all consent holders towards the end of October 2011:

By email for those consent holders who send returns through Council’s webpage or by email. (If your email address has changed from last season please advise Council as soon as possible.)
By post with the prepaid return cards.

If you wish to change your return method, please contact Council as soon as possible. The Council staff members responsible for the water metering project are Daryl Page and Vicky Thorn who can be contacted on 03 543 8425, or 03 543 8567, or by email:

Flush Your Taps

Research carried out by the Institute of Environmental Science and the Ministry of Health has shown that some New Zealand water supplies contain minute traces of lead that are near to or exceed the maximum acceptable level specified in the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards.

Traces of metals – in particular lead – are of concern because over time they pose a potential health risk, especially if consumed from childhood. It is important to note that the lead is not coming from the water supplies themselves, but primarily from metals in some household fittings that may be dissolved into the water. The amount of lead that will dissolve from a fitting depends on how plumbosolvent* the water is; the temperature of the water; the composition of the plumbing fittings and how long the water has been in contact with it.

The fact that most New Zealand waters are of very good quality and contain little dissolved substances such as calcium and magnesium salts contributes to their plumbosolvency, which is widespread in New Zealand. The Ministry of Health therefore recommends that people do not drink the first mugful of water if their tap has not been used for several hours overnight, for instance.

Instead, people should run the tap for a second or so, which will quickly flush-away any water that has become contaminated with lead or any other metals from the plumbing fittings. The Ministry of Health works closely with Standards New Zealand and the plumbing industry to develop quality standards for plumbing fittings.

Additional details on this issue can be sourced from the Ministry of Health website.

* plumbosolvent = The types of water that have the ability to dissolve lead (usually soft waters) are known as ‘plumbosolvent’, from the Latin word for lead, plumbum.

Arts Festival Comes to You

The Nelson Arts Festival is set to spark up the spring with the usual feast of theatre, dance and music, including a couple of shows that are going on the road. Starting with the spectacle of the annual Masked Parade on 7 October 2011, there are 17 days of national and international shows, a huge exhibition of street art (including works by Banksy), kids performing downtown at Nelson’s Westpac Red Square, a sound and light installation playing on the Nelson cathedral tower and a big wrap-up at the Family Finale on Labour Day.

This year’s show to tour Tasman venues is Tui award-winning band Delgirl, made up of three multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriters from Dunedin: Erin Morton - guitar, trumpet, ukulele, vocals; Lynn Vare – percussion, snare drum, tenor ukulele, banjo, vocals; and John Dodd – double bass, vocals. Ask the Tui award-winning band to describe their sound and they’ll scratch around for the right words. Acoustic, country-blues? Harmony-rich folk-reggae fusion? ‘It is what it is’, they say. Ask them to play, and their songs do the talking, revealing musical roots nourished by the warm waters of the tropics, the cool mountain streams of North America and the fertile soils of their New Zealand homeland.

‘Beauty and fragility, romance and regret, love and loss. Delgirl’s music aches and exalts in places we’ve all been.’ Chris Chilton, Southland Times. Delgirl is at Neudorf Vineyard on Saturday 15 October 2011 at 2.00 pm; The Mussel Inn on Thursday 13 October 2011 at 8.00 pm and at the Murchison Fire Station on Friday 14 October 2011 at 7.30pm; and the Granary Festival Café Sunday 16 October 2011 at 7.30pm. Tickets from Everyman Records, Mussel Inn or the Murchison Information Centre.

Poetry in the Vineyard

Also in Tasman is Vincent O’Sullivan, one of New Zealand’s leading writers, with his poetry known for its wit, intellectual agility and arresting beauty. Bring a picnic or order a platter, enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and relax on the lawn. Woollaston Estates, Monday 24 October 2011 at 12.30 pm. Take in the view, enjoy a picnic; 1.00 pm poetry begins, introduced by local poet Louise Wallace.

Tickets at Everyman or at the door. Find out more at www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz or call Everyman Records Ph. 03 548 3083.

Community Recreation – September 2011

New Exhibition at the Motueka District Museum – CONVERTED

Open hours are Tuesday to Friday 10.00 am – 3.00 pm until the 2 December 2011. When is a church not a church? Three buildings in Motueka district still look like churches, but they are not. They have been converted. The Presbyterian Church in Riwaka dates from 1865, The Roman Catholic Church of St Peter Chanel at the top of the High Street was built in 1917 and the Methodist Church, in the town centre was built in 1873. Come and find out more about their story through the years. Motueka District Museum receives support annually from Tasman District Council.

Community Development Fund

The fund’s aim is to enable Tasman District's smaller communities to apply for funding to make plans, provide activities, run events or services to enhance their town or to attract visitors. Applications close 31 October 2011.

SPARC Rural Travel Fund

The fund’s aim is to subsidise rural sports teams travel costs for 5 -19 year olds, enabling them to take part in regular competition. Applications close 31 October 2011.

Tasman Creative Communities Scheme

The funds aims to support local projects that increase access and participation in arts activity. Applications close 10 November 2011. For information on all of the funds/schemes above please go to www.tasman.govt.nz

Prow Quiz 2011 Winners Announced

The Prow Quiz, 2011 attracted more than 100 entries from throughout Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough, and a record number of hits on the website – www.theprow.org.nz. There were 7225 visits during August 2011, an increase of 46% on the previous month. The Tasman winners were Coralie Smith (Motueka) and Celine Raats (Waimea College) – each receives a $50 book voucher. Also of interest in the Prow’s August web viewing statistics, is that the Prow’s story on New Zealand’s first game of rugby is the most popular story, viewed by more than 600 website visitors.

Stories about our region’s rugby history at www.theprow.org.nz are: The history of Nelson rugby, New Zealand’s first rugby game, New Zealand’s first rugby club – and coming very soon: Highlights of the first 100 years of Marlborough rugby.

Promote Your Event in Hummin’

Would you like to promote your summer event to thousands of visitors and locals for free? Every year, the Tasman District Council produces Hummin’ in Tasman, a guide for locals and visitors to help promote the events, attractions and businesses of the Tasman District. 20,000 copies of Hummin’ in Tasman are distributed free through i-Sites, libraries, Council offices, A&P shows, campgrounds, the Richmond Mall and other outlets across the region. This year, event details (of events running between 1 November 2011 to Easter 2012 and based within the Tasman District) will be taken from the It’s On website, www.itson.co.nz, the region’s free events guide.

So if you want your event included in Hummin’, make sure its listed on ‘Its On’ before Friday, 7 October 2011. If you are unable to add details to the Its On website, please email through full event details to Mike Tasman-Jones (mike.tasman-jones@tasman.govt.nz) at Tasman District Council by Friday, 30 September 2011.

In the Rugby Zone - Battle of the Giants

Italian and American rugby supporters will square off in Richmond on Tuesday 27 September 2011 – all in the spirit of fun. Supporters will form teams for the biggest tug-of-war Richmond has ever seen, at the All-Star Tailgate Party*.

The event at the Richmond A&P showgrounds gears up towards the USA vs Italy Rugby World Cup match at Trafalgar Park in Nelson at 7.30 pm (USA-themed team buses will run to the big game). The Tailgate Party, a barbecue-style event, runs from 2.00 pm - 7.00 pm, combining classic Kiwi games with ‘tailgate’ traditions – hotdogs, chicken wings, toffee apples. The headliner music act is local acoustic duo the Gypsy Pickers, supported by rockabilly group the Krazy Kats.

The party is licenced so no ‘bring you own’. A three-day Richmond Festival takes place from September 25-27 2011. Other activities include an all-day Tasman 7’s Invitational tournament at Jubilee Park on Sunday 25 September 2011, with more than 600 local and international players spread over 44 teams. Play starts at 8.00 am, with an evening of entertainment to follow, featuring prizegivings, presentations, live music, cultural events and exhibitions. A traditional Kiwi BBQ, local wines and craft beers will be available.

The Stars ’n’ Stripes Block Party happens on Monday 26 September, from 12 noon - 10.00 pm, in Sundial Square, starting with a lunchtime main street parade, an afternoon of kids’ entertainment at the Richmond Mall and evening of street party festivities. In the Fanzone Motueka fans, meanwhile, can soak up the Rugby World Cup action in their own free mini-stadium, the Tasman Fanzone at the Recreation Centre. The Fanzone is equipped with a large 8 x 4m screen and digital surround sound for the RWC semifinals on 15-16 October 2011, plus the final on Sunday 23 October 2011.

Complementing the games will be live performances, beverages, food, and a supervised fun area for the kids. The free Fanzone is supported by the Tasman District Council and Sport Tasman. While you are at the game, check out facilities at the revamped Recreation Centre. Nelson hosts three matches for the Rugby World Cup:

Italy vs Russia, Tuesday 20 September 2011.
Italy vs USA, Tuesday 27 September 2011.
Australia vs Russia, on Saturday 1 October 2011.

* Tailgating Party: a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating builds supporter connections and increases momentum to cheer on their team before attending the sporting event.