Lonely Planet Lauds Otaki Kite Festival
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PO Box 109 Otaki [email protected] 06 364 5500 www.Otakimail.co.nz 28 March 2014 Lonely Planet Lauds Otaki Kite Festival more skilful, the kite battles will be bridle (string), chasing the bright even more challenging and a draw yellow octopus which was chasing card for this annual festival. The a huge red love heart – all on the champion team and “best battlers” same bridle which was anchored to over the weekend was the ANZ’s a tractor, on the beach! The bright team, with Riverbank Engineering orange crab and the string of 60-70 a close runner-up and Marlan pennant flags which stayed aloft all Trading third. All the teams have day were back too. indicated they’ll return next year, One new anchored kite was a with several other firms showing fluttering seagull, which appeared Wendy Bailey strong interest. to hover just above the crowd, Former editor of the The Rokkuka kites were made by sometimes gliding and at others Otaki Mail Otaki kite maker, Yvonne de Mille giving its wings a flap! It looked died February 28th, and were of identical materials, very realistic and fooled many into after a long illness. with the business’ name on them. believing it was one of the local For a decade she gave us The challengers were given beach residents! stories of our town and its just one lesson on kite fighting Ex-pat Kiwi, Tony Rice from community. techniques before the competition Brisbane, Australia, brought Her paper celebrated began. several of his kites to the festival. Otaki. There were many, many kites of All his kites are original and the all shapes, sizes and styles, flying designs are painted on, not sewn. above the dunes. Visitors saw the Being an environmentalist, his sun return of the huge sand bouncer kite is made from several layers of puffer fish, which at one stage on cellophane paper, with a painted Saturday afternoon got about two design. He managed to get this one metres off the beach. Conditions flying again during the afternoon, were “just right” for the whale after the morning flight was cut as it drifted upwards on its long short when the wind dropped. By MARGARET ANDREWS “handlers” were restricted to space The Otaki Kite Festival was and height allowed, but could another huge success and drew move around as they endeavoured Jed Brophy 12,000 people to Otaki Beach over to cross the opposition kite strings in punchup the three days, many bringing their to bring them down, while keeping own kites and others to watch the their own kite flying. As this sport Has Otaki Beach ever seen such a crowd? Page 9 wide variety of kites from around grows and the operators become 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 Shave for a weather was perfect for flying. cure Certainly the kite fliers with us are keen to be involved next year.” Page 20 Saturday saw the first round of the inaugural Rokkuka Business House Kite Fighting Challenge Hours with nine local businesses Mon - Thur 8.30 - 5.00pm SUMMER SALE competing over the two days Saturday 9.30 - 12.30pm West at the Roundabout, 68 Main Street, Otaki Ph. 06 364 8019 to find the champion. The kite Page: 2 Otaki Mail - 28 March 2014 continued from P1 homemade kite section and local groups fund raising and the festival organiser, Barbara Franks food stalls were kept extremely In July, Tony will be going to presented the prizes for kites busy.” an “enormous” kite festival in from recycled materials. Alex and She complemented the “terrific Bali, where they have some of the Caleb won the Otaki Mail prizes collaboration” between the Otaki biggest traditional kites the world. in their categories. All the prizes 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 The beached whale arises St Peter Chanel schools took the winning Fuse Acrobatic Circus antics from tumbling and juggling opportunity to go to the beach performance brought the day to to high rope performances – with the kites they had made a close on Saturday and Sunday, including a midair barbecue, during kite workshops at their with their Campground Chaos complete with a picnic table The parrot tries to escape the tentacles of the octopus chasing it! school. A group from Westmount These were just a couple of the masses of kites, big and small. show. The six circus performers’ strung above the stage! School in Palmerston North came hair-raising antics kept the 2000 With interest in the festival for the day, bringing ready-made “It’s lovely being here, I’m really were donated by businesses in the plus people, who were packed growing, many kite fliers have kites with them, but went back into the grassed area in front of already marked the second loving it,” he said. wider Otaki area. enthused to make their own next There were 16 visiting kite “The stall part was just right,” the pavilion and round the its weekend in March 2015 into their year. upper level, entranced with their diaries. enthusiasts, from as far away Ms Franks said. “They all did The multi- as Auckland to Ashburton, and pretty well. There were several award 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 KĀPITI COAST DISTRICT COUNCIL kite making competitions; the White family from Hawera, came MEETINGS IN APRIL back to Otaki for this year’s Kapiti Community Centre, festival and took home several 1 Paraparaumu/Raumati 7.00 15 Ngahina Street, of the prizes on offer. Daughter Tuesday April Community Board pm Alex aged nine, took home the Paraparaumu prize for best kite from recycled Grants Allocation Subcom- Council Chambers Ground 3 9.00 materials in the under 10 group, Thursday mittee (Districtwide Hall Floor 175 Rimu Road April am and overall best kite, while 12 Hire Remissions) Paraparaumu year old brother, Caleb took the Grants Allocation Subcom- Council Chambers Ground prize for best homemade kite Thursday 3 9.30 mittee (Creative Communi- Floor 175 Rimu Road in the 11 and over group. Five April ties New Zealand) am year old Zoe Royal, Jordy and Paraparaumu Ruby Thompson and Maggie Gertrude Atmore Supper 8 Ōtaki Community Board 7.00 Braddock all took home prizes Tuesday Room, Memorial Hall, Main April (additional meeting) pm in the recycled kite junior section Street, Ōtaki and Paige Housiaux, aged seven the junior homemade kite prize. Council Chambers Ground Kapiti Mayor, Ross Church and Thursday 10 Regulatory Management 9.00 Floor 175 Rimu Road Otaki ward councillor, Penny April Committee am Gaylor presented prizes in the Brisbane's Tony Rice launches his kite Paraparaumu Council Chambers Ground PB 60601 Paraparaumu | Ph 04 296 4700 | 15 10.00 Fx 04 296 4830 | www.kapiticoast.govt.nz Tuesday Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti Floor 175 Rimu Road April am Paraparaumu Council Chambers Ground Thursday 17 10.00 Council Meeting Floor 175 Rimu Road April am Paraparaumu Gertrude Atmore Supper 29 7.00 Tuesday Ōtaki Community Board Room, Memorial Hall, Main April pm mortgagelink Street, Ōtaki Attendance at meetings 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. 2. Venue: Please note that all meetings will be held in the Council Chambers, Civic Administration Building, 175 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu, unless otherwise specified. 3. Public Speaking Time – Under Council’s Standing Orders (Appendix I) a period will be provided after the start of each meeting for Public Speaking Time to allow for oral submissions generally relating to agenda items, although other matters may be raised with the leave of the Chairperson. If you wish to address the Council or its Committees during Public Speaking Time please book ahead with the Democratic Services Advisor and you will be given an approximate timeslot. People who book ahead for Public Speaking will be given precedence over those who do not. 4. Agendas are available two days before the meeting at: REX DUCKETT • Our website www.kapiticoast.govt.nz; 06 364 6123 • Council’s Libraries and Service Centres. INSURANCE 0800 367 467 Pat Dougherty Chief Executive PB 60601 Paraparaumu | Ph 04 296 4700 | Fx 04 296 4830 | www.kapiticoast.govt.nz Otaki Mail - 28 March 2014 Page: 3 Festival exhibition at Mahara Gallery for public viewing, the Field view the collection.” VIVIENNE BAILEY Collection Trust has offered the The exhibition also includes collection (presently held by the several events, including a walk to Frances Hodgkins in Kapiti: Field family) to the gallery for the Field family plot in Waikanae The Field Collection showcases permanent display, once planned Cemetery (where Frances and celebrates New Zealand’s museum standard facilities have Hodgkins’ ashes are interred), most famous expatriate artist been reached.