Doctors Point, , Evansdale, Warrington, Seacliff 1 March 2009 Waitati 770% better than by the editors Leonie Rousselot took this photo inside an ornate Edwardian carriage of the Taieri Gorge Railway commuter train from Waitati to on Wedndesday, 18 March. The seated pair are Nick Prosser and Chris Linsell, two of the 208 passengers who were counted arriving in Dunedin (some alighted earlier: children heading to School and the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School at Maia). Two trains, with evening return trips, were run on Walk to Work Day for commuters who live out of walking range of the city. The train from Mosgiel had 27 passengers in spite of a will try harder next time. population base about ten times greater; ‘Blueskin Colour photo at http://getthetrain.blogspot.com/ News’ hopes that the good people of Mollywood Newcomer settles in to village life feature article by Stacy-Ann Campbell Waitati newcomer Lynnaire Johnston has embraced Lynnaire came to Waitati in August from the centuries-old concept of a potager garden, . Her elderly mother lives in Waikouaiti which is a garden that combines herbs, flowers and she had the chance to buy a property she and vegetables and is sharing the results with the adores. Her main business, magazine writing, local community. editing, and copywriting, can be done anywhere. From her home on the corner of Doctor’s Point “Technology allows it today,” she says. Road and Foyle Street, Lynnaire will sell fresh and Trained as a journalist, Lynnaire has had a dried herbs, plants and herbs, plus preserves and varied career: she worked in radio for ten years, produce. was a motoring editor, has worked in charity (and Lynnaire will aim at a different market than is in fact still does), and was senior writer for the catered for by Blueskin Nurseries and feels there country’s largest city council. Some years ago she will be plenty of customers for both. “It’s a local began her own freelance writing and copywriting enterprise for local people and the prices reflect business, Word Wizard, creating websites, that,” she says. advertisements, brochures and other marketing Since October Lynnaire has been selling her material for a wide variety of companies. herbs at various local markets including Seacliff. Lynnaire’s media skills and generous offers She was recently awarded first place for the best of help have been a great asset to the Blueskin outdoor stall at the Palmerston A&P show. • continued on page 2 1 March 2009 Blueskin News 1 April Art in the Arvo is cancelled by Señorita León de la Barra Cafe We’ve decided to cancel April’s ‘Art in the Arvo’ next to Blueskin Nurseries because it is scheduled on the same day as the A&P sale, so things may be too hectic. Open 7 days from 8.30am to 4.00pm • from page 1 media team. She edits the weekly Blueskin Bay Full menu available all day, plus news bulletins read out each Friday on Puketapu counter food, coffee and a Radio and she co-edited the February edition of large range of teas. ‘Blueskin News’ while regular co-editor Craig All food is freshly prepared Marshall was away. on the premises. Lynnaire says the best thing about living in Private functions and a small community is that anywhere you go you out-catering on request: run into someone you know, which is not the phone 482 2633 case in the city. “I enjoy the fact there is so much going on here, yet it is comparatively quiet and peaceful,” she says.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Local contact: Elspeth 482 2022 www.amnesty.org.nz

Blueskin News Published not-for-profit by volunteers of Blueskin Media on the 1st of each month, February to December, 600 copies distributed around Seacliff, Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati and Doctors’ Point. Additional copies available at Blueskin General Store, Blueskin Bay Community Library and Warrington Post Office Boxes. We publish anything about this area, or anything written by someone from this area; and all ranges of opinion which are expressed in a respectful way. All unattributed opinion shall be attributed to Blueskin Media. All material sent to and/or published by us is “copyleft” and may be freely copied, re-edited and re-published. Content is pooled with the blueskin.co.nz website and other local media. Content offered for publication under the above principles is welcome; please email by the 22nd of each month to [email protected]. Electronic copy should be formatted as simply as possible with two returns between each paragraph or item in a list, and after each heading. Produced and distributed this month with the help of: Craig Marshall, Louise Booth, Lynnaire Johnston, Peter Dowden, Polly Higham, Stacy-Ann Campbell , Kelvin & Bev Lyon Milk Vendors, Blueskin General Store, Gallery on Blueskin, the Contributors and Advertisers. Printed by North East Computing, Hampden. 2 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 ANZAC DAY SERVICE Briefs

Saturday 25 April • Coast Road Market on Sunday April 5 by Helen Beamish • Toss a possum at the Blueskin A&P Clearing Sale on April4: Dame Edna won’t be there The Blueskin Bay Anzac Day service will be held • Join the Waitati Edible Gardeners at the at the Waitati Hall and Cenotaph at 10am on Harvest Market on Sunday April 18. See Anzac Day. page 5 • Wreath-laying and Remembrance Service • ANZAC Day service on April 25, Waitati • Waitati Cenotaph and Hall, 10am Hall • Followed by community morning tea - please • A&P Country Fair Photography competition, bring a plate closes April 2 If you have medals from your forbears, or “war stories” from your family history, please contact Helen Beamish - we would like to incorporate more “local history” into our service this year. We acknowledge the death earlier this year of Blueskin News advertising Mr David Symon, Lieutenant, 2nd Engineering We are now taking bookings for advertising in Field Company, World War 2. David has laid the 2009. community wreath at our Cenotaph services over • business card (up to one-eighth of A5 page) many years - we shall miss his positive spirit and $15 presence this Anzac Day. • up to quarter A5 page: $25 Our local service is truly a community-oriented • up to half A5 page: $35 time of remembrance and reflection. Many people • up to full A5 page: $60 combine their talents and time to ensure the • Double A5 page spread: $100 service is both community and reflective. Discount or waiver of the above fees may If you would like to help in any way… be available for non-commercial community adult or child…setting up the hall, morning tea events. contributions, clearing up afterwards, scrubbing All classified ads are free. the Cenotaph, making a wreath…please contact Deadline: 22nd of the month, January to me, and we’ll sort out a place for you to “join the November. team”. Most “jobs” happen on the day before – the [email protected] last Friday of the school holidays. For more information, contact Helen Beamish at 4821 440 or hbeamish @ clear.net.nz

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1 March 2009 Blueskin News 3 Derek’s Garden Diary April: the grower’s holidays by Derek Onley Last year’s advice for what to plant in April is still produce enough for green tomato chutney. at http://tinyurl.com/c9cnac but I wouldn’t bother Some varieties of vegetable will grow better looking because I said it was far too late to plant in your garden micro-climate and with your anything and you would be better off feeding the style of gardening than others, so it is worth leeks and brassicas with compost and mulch and experimenting. Last spring I planted two varieties gathering compost and mulch materials for next of broccoli alternately in a row, composted, year. Or going on holiday. mulched and sporadically squashed caterpillars But after that column appeared my gardening in a similar manner. De Ciccio, an old Italian neighbour immediately told me that he always variety, grew tall and green, had one smallish planted his broccoli in April and that I was being central head and after cutting, lots of small side pessimistic (or lazy?), so maybe you should give it a shoots, though I did need to feed and water it well. go and report the results back to Blueskin News. Shogun, a hybrid and one for the “cooler months”, It is true that you can get several different grew more slowly, was greyer leaved, shorter and varieties of broccoli and that some, as they so thicker stemmed, developed a large central head optimistically say on the seed packet, are “the later than de Ciccio and then seemed to struggle choice for the cooler months” or more reservedly to produce many side shoots. “suitable for cooler climates”. If you see any such Vegetable varieties that grow especially well recommendation on any vegetable then I reckon and relatively easily in my garden are: Manchester you should grab the seeds immediately and try table carrots, merveille des quatre saisons and royal planting them down here in spring, the warmer oak leaf lettuces, yellow (golden wax) dwarf beans part of the year. Apart from the few hot days rather than green ones and curly kale rather than in January they will flourish in our temperate the long, crumpled leaved lacinato. If you have Blueskin Bay climate. Just remember to water them any varieties that have been especially successful, well if it gets dry. or seeds that you have been collecting for years Tomatoes are a different story. Don’t be that grow well around the Bay, maybe you could tempted by names like Arctic Surprise, Oregon email me and we will include them in the May Spring or varieties that claim to have fed US Blueskin News. bases in Greenland, in the hope that they will Means I don’t have to think up something to grow outside like a cabbage. My neighbour will write about next month. I’m going on holiday. undoubtedly tell me otherwise but it is barely hot enough down here to get them to flower let alone The Blueskin Garden Club by Lesley Smith We have not had an “official” meeting of the the show with those who could not attend. Blueskin Bay Garden Club since December. This we will do at our next meeting on However, we have not been idle in that time: apart Thursday 2 April (a week early due to Easter the from all the usual chores to be completed in our following week). It will be held at Lyne Carlyle’s gardens we have been out and about. house at 7.30pm. Please bring along a small plate In the last two months club members have for a shared supper, your photos, a flower and a visited private gardens in Dunedin, attended a vegetable for the competition, and also plants for Kindred Day where members of different garden a perennial swap. New members most welcome. clubs and similar groups meet and greet and swap If you require further information please contact ideas, and several of our members were able to visit Lyn Hastie on 482 2896. the Ellerslie Flower Show in Christchurch. Our AGM will be held on Thursday 14 May, Due to the many who attended the flower show when the theme will be ‘hats’ - more details the committee decided that we would take the regarding this at our next meeting and in the next opportunity to share our thoughts and photos of Blueskin News. 4 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 WAITATI EDIBLE GARDENERS by Lucy Jack This month is most likely the last harvest market of Your neighbours in the park, the year, taking place on April 18th on Mark and The Diligent Composters Rayna’s porch, The Old Stores, Harvey St. Highlights of the March market for me were Dear Diligent Composters, elegant conserves from The Village Potager, Oak leaves are acidic and so an unappetising organic bush honey from Rainbow Farm and the environment for worms. ducks! If you are low maintenance ‘add-as-you-go’ Bring down anything you’ve got in the garden folk, composting small amounts of organic and fill up on fresh produce and preserves. Or just material at a time, you will be ‘slow-and-cool’ come and have a lovely cup of fresh herby tea. composting, and much of the breakdown will be We are continuing our drive for membership. done by worms and the like. Oak leaves might take For discounts on tours longer (1-2 years) to and workshops and break down this way to support our group but will get there in providing vegetable the end. Don’t worry centered ser vices about the absence of to the community, worms - the microbes pay $5 to Lucy at 14 will do it. Orokonui Rd for ‘life If you have big membership’. To be batches of stuff grass included on mailing clippings which are lists and be a WEGgie high in nitrogen ‘friend’, email waitati. and oak leaves (high edible.gardeners @ in carbon) you can gmail.com or call Lucy hot-and-fast-compost on 482 1773 aerobically. You need University of to layer or mix your Otago anthropologist big pile o’ stuff and Michela Carrington make sure it has water is to set her Honours (dampen with hose) project in Waitati. and air (poke with She is interested stick). i n d i s c o v e r i n g Yo u c a n a l s o how sustainability add food scraps and movements like ours some old compost affect the community or Bokashi to help in general. Michela would like to meet and inoculate it with the right microbes to get it started. interview community members who are involved This will break everything down more quickly (6 at all levels, even just reading this column. If you months) and it will steam. The worms will stay well would like to take part, contact waitati.edible. clear to avoid getting cooked. You might be doing [email protected] or ring Lucy 482 1773 this already which is why you have no worms! Ask Aunt Lucy After you have composted your oak leaves via Dear Aunt Lucy, either method, you should not have to add lime We have a big oak tree on our property and to compensate for the acidity, as the microbes will dutifully compost fallen the leaves but we never have sorted this all out for you. find worms in the oak leaf compost. What’s going XX -Aunt Lucy on? 1 March 2009 Blueskin News 5 Warrington Playcentre by Liz Abbott As we near the end of Term 1, we sit back and reflect on what a busy one it has been. The children have had so much fun going swimming at Warrington School and it has been amazing to watch the growth in their water confidence. We have decided to end our term with a big splash at Moana Pool. We have been busy with lots of other activities too, blowing bubbles, making birthday cakes out of playdough, sand and other materials. In fact, we need to restock our candles. This term we have said many goodbyes to our Blueskin Bay now 5-year-olds and we wish them all the very Library Hours best at school: Dion, Olive-Coco, Floyd, Zach Monday: 2.00 pm – 7.00 pm and Harry. Tuesday: 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm Our Open Week has been and gone and Wednesday: 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm unfortunately the weather wasn’t very kind Thursday: 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm to us. However, we would like to extend our Friday: 10.00 am – 12.00 pm invititation: 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm • You are welcome to drop in and see us at any Saturday: 10.00 am – 1.00 pm time, come and have a cuppa and a chat and find out what we get up to on a daily basis. We are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am - 12 noon. We look forward to seeing you at the Blueskin A&P Waitati Toy Library Clearing Sale - we will have lots of yummy things that you can buy! We are closed during the month of April due to Easter and school holidays. We will reopen in May as follows: • Saturday 2nd May 10.30- 11.30am • Monday 4th May 6.30- 7.30pm • Saturday 16th May 10.30- 11.30am • Monday 18th May 6.30- 7.30pm In the meantime, if you would like any further information please contact Liz on 482 1450

6 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 by Sue Hensley now in place it’s a bit easier to see how the whole might look. I can also imagine a nice hot cuppa after a “refreshing” winters walk while taking in the magnificent valley view! The Ecosanctuary is open exclusively for guided tours at present. Bookings are essential. Tours cost $20 adult $10 child, with half price for members. Tours are for 1–2 hours for a maximum of 8 people per guide. Come and see this fantastic forest restoration project in progress, learn about the changes that have already been made and support the development of the Ecosanctuary. It seemed all was lost at the kaka nest when the For enquiries, the office number is 482 1755. female was seen outside the nest for over an For further information on the Ecosanctuary, hour and the male nowhere around. However visit www.orokonui.org.nz or see our box at the two days later when a photo was taken to reveal Blueskin Bay Library. what was actually happening inside the tree - to great surprise and delight one fluffy chick was CHILDCARE discovered. The appearance of particular feathers Home-based childcare on the chick suggest it is approximately a month old. It will be another month before it comes services for under 5 year olds out of the nest and another 5 months before it is Provided by an experienced independent. care giver and mother One of our young kaka males has been out of signal range for over a month now and with no Quality childcare sightings being reported from the “outside” it is part-time or full time assumed he has gone on a (kaka) “OE” as some Permanent or casual young birds do. We wish him well and hope he remains safe. Monday-Friday More jewelled gecko arrived last month, taking Reasonable rates numbers to around 30 which is a good size for an initial population. A lucky group of people on Two minutes in from tour got to see one of these geckos up close just SH 1 south of Waitati before it was released. It is amazing how something Phone Carol and have so brilliantly emerald green can disappear so completely once on foliage. a chat on 482-2307 A clutch of young tuatara hatched from eggs by the zoology department arrived mid March and are initially being housed in purpose built pens built by Paul Clements. Slater colonies are being established to provide a food source for these engaging critters. Unfortunately, mice continue to be detected in several places and field staff are busy adding more monitoring tunnels as well as setting hundreds of traps in those problem areas. Progress on the Visitor and Education Centre is on track and with the roof structure and floor 1 March 2009 Blueskin News 7 Mist the train … Over a hundred people wait at the old Waitati station site for the commuter train to Dunedin. After stopping at Purakaunui, Mihiwaka, Sawyers Bay and Maia, Dunedin’s first commuter train in decades arrived at Dunedin with about 300 passengers. Photo: Blueskin News/blueskin.co.nz

Help The Highland Horse Haven Mt Cargill Road, Waitati. Buy Some Excellent Hubbard’s Fundraising Muesli: 750g bag only $3 Buy 5 Bags get the 6th one free! Phone Geraldine for Muesli Orders: 4822 517 (leave a message). The aim of the haven is to provide a home and rehabilitation to neglected horses. Once horses are back to good health they will be rehomed. For more details or if you would like to offer practical help or make a donation contact Shelly McBratney 488 5254 or 027 307 3746, PO Box 54 Waitati.

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8 Blueskin News 1 March 2009

Blueskin A & P Society Inc

CLEARING SALE & Family Fun Day

Saturday 4th April 2009 10.30 am – 3.30 pm Bland Park, Waitati ______

. Items for the clearing sale auction can be left at Bland Park between 12.00 and 6.00 pm on Friday 3rd, and from 8.00 am on Saturday 4th. . Security will be provided overnight on Friday.

. All items for the auction must be in place by 10.00 am on Saturday. The auction will start at 11.00 sharp. . Cost: $10 for a basic lot that has no reserve price. . Phone George Terry with any queries regarding the Clearing Sale 482 2721 or 027 224 0311 . Potential buyers must register at the Secretary’s Office on the day of the sale

1 March 2009 Blueskin News 9

Blueskin A & P Society Inc

Clearing Sale & Family Fun Day Saturday 4th April - 10.30am - 3.30pm

Hot food; hot & cold drinks: available all day at the Flying Possum Cafeteria.

Horse Rides: Bouncy Castle

Fun & Games: all day with Mandy Mayhem

R & R Sport Decorate Your Bike Competition: Bring your decorated bike to the park by 11.00 on Saturday for judging.

Car Boot Sale: Cost - $10 per car

Grand Raffle: Trailer load of firewood

Photography competition: (In Waitati Hall) 4 Age groups: School year 4 & below: School Year 5 - 8 School year 9 - 13: Adult Photography Theme: ‘Man vs. Nature’ (Entries to Blueskin Gallery by 4.00 pm 2nd April)

International Possum Tossing Championship: Starts at 2.30 - Teams of 3 - minimum age of competitor is 15 - $2 per person entry

Southern Clams Ltd: Educational display

10 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 Waitati Film Society All welcome to join us at Bill’s Place, at the corner displacing Shanghai’s traditional of Orokonui and Mt. Cargill Roads on Tuesdays housing, Burtynsky claims moral at 8.00pm. Yearly membership $55 - for at least 29 neutrality, this is what I see, let’s nights of movies and some special screenings! talk about it. 90 min Drama, comedy, history or just plain Tuesday April 28 entertainment in a warm, pleasant environment RAIN with convivial company. Phone Brigitte 482 2829 New Zealand 2001 or Leonie 482 2508 or visit www.nzfilmsociety. It is summer. Thirteen year old Janey and her org.nz/waitati.htm family settle into their isolated cottage for another Tuesday April 14 perfect seaside holiday. Her days are full of MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES swimming and fishing. At night her parents give Canada 2006 parties where the adults drink, dance and flirt. Edward Burtynsky uses his camera to capture Janey is increasingly aware of the cracks in her Man’s inexorable pursuit of consumer-driven parents’ marriage. Watching her mother begin an progress; massive waste dumps, expansive strip affair with a visiting photographer, she starts to mines, factory workers lined up to infinity. Despite discover her own sexuality. Janey decides to grow focusing his lens on China’s monolithic, people up quickly. Too quickly. 91 min displacing Three Gorges Dam, and huge high rises Waitati Volunteer Fire Brigade by Deanne Burrell Volunteer Fire Fighter and Secretary The Waitati Volunteer Fire Brigade thanks upper floors everybody in the Blueskin Bay area for keeping • Keep keys in deadlocks when at home call-outs to a minimum. • Have an outside meeting place, such as a With the winter months approaching we would letterbox or a special tree like to remind everyone that now is a good time to • Make special plans for the young and old have chimneys cleaned and to check smoke alarms. Remember - Get Out! Stay Out! If you do not have smoke alarms we encourage you The brigade would like to congratulate Keith to buy them. If anyone requires any information in Templeton, Charles Abraham and Deanne Burrell, regards to where to place smoke alarms around the who have recently completed and passed a Seven home please feel free to contact one of the Brigade Day Basic Skills Fire Fighting Course held at the members or call into the Fire Station on a Monday Dunedin Central Fire Station. Also congratulations evening and we will be only too happy to offer to Richard Templeton, Chris Felipe Alves and Paul advice or come and install them for you. Dennison who have successfully completed and This is a good time to sit down with your passed their Senior Fire Fighter Course. Well family and devise an Escape Plan. Everyone needs done everyone. to understand the Escape Plan and to practise It is with regret that we announce the escaping from each room in the house by the resignation of Paul Dennison, aka Pablo the two exits. cheese maker. Thank you Paul for your hard work Fires start in kitchens (25% of cases), bedrooms and dedication to the Brigade over the last 5 years (13%), and lounges and family rooms (16%). Make and we wish you well for the future. Also leaving sure your family practises escaping from these is our newest member Waka Miller, who has been rooms every three to six months. selected to join the NZ Fire Service full time, and is Remember, you need to: off to the North Island for a three month training • Have working smoke alarms course. Well done Waka and we hope to see you • Know two ways out of every room if possible back in the region in the near future. • Make sure that doors and windows needed Once again thank you to everyone for their for escape are clear and easy to open, and that efforts in keeping our community safe. there is a safe way to reach the ground from 1 March 2009 Blueskin News 11 12 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 1 March 2009 Blueskin News 13 Blueskin Bay Library by Louise Booth April Fool’s Day, Easter, Anzac Day, the end of • Week two is about puppets. At 2pm each day daylight saving and the end of one school term and from Monday April 20 to Friday 24, there will the beginning of another - this is a busy month. be puppet making in the Waitati Hall for a gold Children’s Book Clubs coin donation. On Friday, the puppets will star Our dates for the Waitati School and Warrington in their own show. School book clubs looked like clashing with the Registrations will be essential at the library, pay end of term and the holidays, and so these clubs your gold coin, and be early to be sure that you will not resume until May. Watch out in the May don’t miss out. Blueskin News for the dates. Poetry Project Book Club for Adults We have it on good authority that Warrington These meetings are held every month on the first School’s contributions to ‘Blueskin Poets 2009’ are Tuesday, at 10am in the Blueskin Cafe. Come along at an advanced stage. This is exciting, and we hope on April 7, to share your passion for reading, and that others in this very creative community have enjoy delicious coffee at the same time. pens burning the paper, or keyboards, or whatever. Holiday Programme Poems from everyone, adult, child, experienced The wonderful Karen Snow has great plans for or novice poets, are welcome. Please have your Blueskin Bay children these holidays. original work, no longer than one side of an A4 • Week one features kites. The kite-making sheet, into us at the library by the end of July. workshops will be at 2pm on Tuesday 14, Win a Prize! Wednesday 15, Thursday 16, and Friday 17 This competition for local children is now open. April in the Waitati hall. On Friday there will We’re asking you to design the cover for ‘Blueskin also be kite flying. We are asking for a gold Poets 2009’ on an A4 sheet of paper. The theme coin donation per kite, which can be made in can be anything you like, but the words ‘Blueskin a single workshop, or over as many workshops Poets 2009’ must be prominent. Please deliver your as the maker chooses. design to the library by the end of July.

Youth Hall Society AGM by Louise Booth The Youth Hall Society AGM will be held on Tuesday 7 April at 7.30pm in the Waitati Hall. Everyone who has an interest in the future of Happy Hands Craft Blueskin Bay youth is invited to attend and support Group meet every 2nd this meeting. & 4th Wednesday at the Wheelie car impounded: Palmerston Community Centre. man goes to court by the editors New members most An 18 year old Dunedin man was due to appear at welcome. the Dunedin District Court in March in relation to a vehicle seen doing wheelies and damaging the For more information phone reserve at Warrington Domain in late January. Lyne 4822822 Constable Jon-Paul Tremain of Waikouaiti Marlene 4822348 Police told ‘Blueskin News’ that the offender was spoken to and admitted to the offending and had his vehicle was impounded for 28 days.

14 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 1 March 2009 Blueskin News 15 Waitati Energy Project by Scott Willis We may be entering autumn, but that doesn’t mean Normanby, Mt Mera, Pine Hill, Liberton, Dalmore things are shutting up shop on the energy front. & ), until resources are exhausted. After Don’t miss the Waitati Energy Survey feedback initial discussions considering 260 retrofits, the this month (see below). WEP is now looking contract for funding that EECA agreed with the intensively at new funding options as we’ve just had is for about 170 homes. heard we missed out in our bid to the Sustainable Final numbers will only be known on completion, Management Fund. This means that in the short as no two houses are the same. If all goes smoothly term we need to scale our ambitions to what can be we will have an opportunity to apply for further done on mostly volunteer labour, but since much funding. I don’t want to offer false hope – we’ll has already been achieved there’s no need to feel almost certainly have 170 applications in by despondent. I’m receiving positive support from April – however, if we’re full up this time, with our main partners and can assure everybody that names still on file we’ll be well prepared if we get the two core WEP initiatives (retrofit rollout and a chance to continue. The WEP is also offering to renewable generation) will not suffer, while other facilitate unsubsidised retrofitting for those who things such as the development of a Transition require it. For information please email the WEP Plan/Local Energy Strategy and a big Simple or call me on the numbers below. Energy Solutions competition are still happening, Waitati Energy Survey or are in our sights. Remember the recent Otago Energy Research WEP Retrofit Rollout Centre’s survey? I’ve seen the raw data and it is By the time you read this, the WEP retrofitting both surprising and fascinating to see our practices roll-out will have begun. As I write I can only say and habits laid bare. The data (and the comments that contracts have been confirmed and signed. scrawled in the margins) will be presented in an And the hard work will now begin! Because of the easily digestible and engaging format by OERC ambitious nature of this rollout (a large number of researchers, and we’ll get an opportunity to ask homes within a short timeframe), the pre-project questions, make suggestions and more at the stage has been complex, and I’ve been impressed meeting at the Waitati Hall at 7.30 on April 23. by all partners in getting this moving. The usual refreshments and occasion to chat will EnergySmart (the retrofit contractors) follow. This will be a wonderful opportunity to have been compiling the applications, and in glean an objective perspective on the Waitati collaboration with the WEP, a plan is constantly community, so mark it on your calendar. being refined (which houses, where). We’re using Renewable Generation preset criteria (social priority and geographical Otago University students will be doing site visits zone) as well as order of received applications. The during April, with wind monitoring masts to be retrofitters first contact households to organise a in place next month. We’re collaborating with the scoping visit, for which householders pay $30. DCC on another renewable generation project, Householders confirm (or not) the next retrofit while a whole host of other conversations with stage designated by the scope. At this point, interested parties have been profitably initiated. householders will know exactly how much their The Powerhouse Wind prototype is about to be 20% of the cost will amount to, and will have installed and I’m looking forward to the first several days to decide, or arrange a loan (from results. This project is breaking new ground in WINZ, the Credit Union, or elsewhere). To keep more ways than one. More details next month. administration costs down and the retrofit process You can join the email list at waitatienergy@ rolling along, EnergySmart require the 20% cost gmail.com (the WEP email address has changed), paid upfront. visit the web-pages (http://www.transitiontowns. Retrofits begin in Waitati, followed by the larger org.nz/waitati), come to the events publicised here Blueskin Bay area, then Waikouaiti, ‘Transition and on local notice boards, or phone me at 479 Valley 473’ (inner suburbs of , 5327 or 482 2249. 16 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 1 March 2009 Blueskin News 17 Ministry of Blueskin Bay transport by Peter Dowden Car travel costs have eased off a little in recent months as the oil price drops. Other financial influences are still making locals think carefully about their transport costs. Numbers are up on the local bus services, the W3 Rideshare and there seem to be more hitch-hikers around these days. The Otago Regional Council has officially decided not to introduce a bus service via Seacliff and Warrington to Dunedin. The ODT reported that the Council concluded it was not viable to run special bus services to the two communities. “Instead, residents should be encouraged to take the weekday Palmerston-Dunedin bus, using informal park and ride at Evansdale and Waitati.” Read the article: http://tinyurl.com/ccl8gd And by golly, it is informal all right: windswept with muddy puddles. A bus shelter would be really nice. With a roof. The long-distance buses that zoom through between Dunedin and Christchurch are available to local users. Focussed on their distant goals, these bus companies are not especially geared for local traffic but they do include us in their schedules. The Minister noticed one company, nakedbus. com (nothing to do with nudity; they “strip the costs of travel”) which seemed to be charging the same for Dunedin-Waitati as Dunedin- Christchurch. They have now slashed these prices up to 75%, charging no more than $10 and as little as $1 if you book about a decade in advance. Now if we could just persuade them to serve Evansdale as well… The timetable on the back page of ‘Blueskin News’ has been upgraded to include the long distance services. Please treat these times with deep suspicion. See also: http://tinyurl.com/ c4elah Links in this article are clickable if you read it on our website: blueskin.co.nz

18 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 Warrington Surf Life Coast Road Market Saving Club 2009 dates by Peter Dowden by Liz Abbott March got off to a great start for Warrington The Coast Road market is held on the first Sunday with a creditable performance at the Otago of each month beside Coast Rd at the north end Championships. of Seacliff. Here a is a list of dates for the market As Blueskin News was going to print we were for 2009. very busy arranging goods for our Garage Sale, and • Sunday April 5 we will let you know how that went next month. • Sunday May 3 Coming up in April we have the official • Sunday June 7 opening of our new clubrooms extension. It has • Sunday July 5 been a long haul to achieve this milestone for • Sunday August 2 our club but it is wonderful to enjoy the new • Sunday September 6 facilities. • Sunday October 4 We now have a lovely sleek modern kitchen • Sunday November 1 and easy-clean changing rooms with deliciously • Sunday December 6 hot showers running on LPG, so there is unlimited hot water for frozen lifeguards. TAE KWON DO We have so much to be thankful for in our At Warrington Hall sponsors: the big trusts as well as the generous local Monday and Wednesday donors and who gave as much as they could. Our club lists all of them on the clubroom wall. 6pm - 7.30pm. Contact Paul Foley 479 6110

Looking for an unusual herb or handmade food gift? T he V ill age Pot age r stall is now open for organically grown plants, preserves & produce (specialising in herbs) corner Doctor’s Pt Rd & Foyle St, Waitati

Also at the Coast Rd Market Seacliff and Waitati Harvest Market. For a plant catalogue phone 482 1364 or email [email protected]

1 March 2009 Blueskin News 19 Wild Blueskin: Rare bird? by Derek Onley If you were in the Tarras area in the Upper Clutha Black-billed gulls are not easy to tell from Valley over the last few weeks you may have red-billed gulls, the ones that hang around your witnessed some erratic driving and strangely beach picnic or barbecue, and their names are far intense interest in barren paddocks. Cars that from helpful. Some red-billed gulls have black bills were creeping along the road would suddenly and some black-billed gulls have reddish bills. So accelerate then screech to a halt, pulling off the forget the bills and legs and look at the overall road if you were lucky. Doors would fly open and shape of the bird and its bill and the paleness in a tangle of tripods and optical equipment more of its back. Black-billed gulls are slimmer and at home in a fashion show, half a dozen bearded slightly shorter-legged than red-billed gulls, with men or heavily anoraked women would stare slightly longer, more slender beaks and their backs intently into the distance. ‘Twitchers,’ as they are are paler, appearing almost white in open, sunlit called, birdwatchers who pursue the rarest birds, estuaries. observing the first ever straw- Red-billed gulls are our necked ibis in New Zealand. common coastal gull and If you were in Karitane they also occur in Australia over the last few weeks you and South Africa where they may have seen lots of small pale are equally keen on picnic seagulls on the sandbar down sandwiches and barbecue by the wharf. Every now and sausages. then someone would launch Black-billed gulls only a boat, collect a few cockles, occur in New Zealand and wander out there with their are much keener on healthy, dog and the flock would fly wild food although some in up, swirl around for a minute Southland parks are picking up or two then land back on the the fast food habit. Nowadays sand, shoulder to shoulder, most black-billed gulls nest all facing into the wind. Not a Black-billed Gull. inland in Southland, Otago birdwatcher of any persuasion and Canterbury. Fifty years ago in sight, yet 5000, or 1 in 20 of the world’s total there was a large nesting colony on the mudflats population of black-billed gulls, was preening, near Evansdale but these have long gone and they bathing, squabbling or resting on that one sandbar are not doing very well in their inland nesting sites at Karitane. either. Prey to cats and ferrets and flash flooding, Straw-necked ibises are big, heron like birds their numbers have declined in Southland by up with long down-curved beaks, black and white to 80% in the last 30 years. plumage and, as their name suggests, scruffy, Rachael McClellan likened the colony she yellowish necks. They are common and obvious was studying in Southland to “a fast-food joint enough in Australia to have attracted other less for introduced predators such as cats and ferrets”. academic names like dryweather or letter bird and In a little over two months one cat and possibly farmer’s friend due to their partiality to locusts one individual ferret had single-handedly killed and black crickets. hundreds of young chicks. Some half a million are estimated to live Every year after nesting they move to the coast, in Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea and and every autumn some thousands congregate at the Tarras twitchers were ticking off one poor Karitane and Blueskin Bay, feeding on pink krill unfortunate bird that had managed to survive the beyond the breakers and returning at low tide to Tasman Sea crossing and find the habitat closest preen and roost on estuarine sandbanks. to the arid stocklands of home in the paddocks 5,000 black-billed gulls at Karitane or 1 of Central. straw-necked ibis in Central. Which is the rare

20 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 bird?

5% of the world’s Black-billed Gull population gather at Karitane and Blueskin Bay. PETE HODGSON MP

Next MP clinics for your community are Monday 20 April 2009 1.30pm Waikouaiti Library 2.30pm Waitati Library MP Office 32 Albany Street Dunedin Ph 03 474 1973 Fax 03 474 9913 Email [email protected]

1 March 2009 Blueskin News 21 Future of dancing in Waitati looks Rozi by Peter Dowden Last month a new dancing opportunity started just to learn steps. Everything in the dances has in Waitati. Rozi Dance Studio is led by Rozalina logic and that is the most important thing to know MacRae, a professional dancer for 15 years in if you want to look nice when you dance.” modern and Latino-dance, with experience The classes are open for people of all different as a dance teacher in the ages, and dancers can come Netherlands, Norway, alone or with a partner. “It’s Turkey and Israel. not necessary to have dance Rozi, originally from experience, “ Rozi explains. Bulgaria, specialises in “We start from scratch. The Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha- kilograms do not matter cha and other fashionable either.” Latin-American styles. Rozi describes her new “The interest was big group as “enthusiastic, friendly, and we have already had talented and serious people.” one class with wonderful “From the first lesson my dancers and nice people,” dancers already have many Rozi told Blueskin News. ideas for public performances Rozi’s idea for the at the local festivals and are dance studio is to enhance open for invitations,” she said. local social life, not only to The first lesson is free for hold lessons. She believes everybody. The dancers are dance should be taught given printed information alongside discussions, visits about the style that they are to cultural events, learning learning and CDs with music about the styles, musicians from the lessons. The classes are and singers, musical culture held in Waitati Hall. Rozalina and history of the styles. MacRae can be contacted at “People have to know 482 1094 or 027 678 6100, or why they dance to that music exactly that way, not by email at [email protected]

22 Blueskin News 1 March 2009 Classifieds YOUR AD HERE editors@ blueskin.co.nz for COB EARTH BUILDING workshop 9am-5:30pm, free ‘Classifieds’ on this column. 18 and 25 April, Harmony Farm, Waitati Valley WAITATI HALL Large modern kitchen facility. Rd. Learn to make a cob seat or building. Phone Meeting room, an attractive facility for a variety David 021 122 0910 of functions. For more information or to hire this NATUROPATH, MASSEUR, REBIRTHER venue please phone Blueskin Bay Library 482 available by appointment at Waitati Hall and 5km 2444 up Waitati Valley Rd. David Baillie, ND: 021 122 WARRINGTON HALL For all bookings: please 0910 phone Rowena Park 482 2667 COURSES in permaculture, sustainable building, PLUNKET child car seat hire: contact Stacey spiritual ecology, forest monitoring, and trail Whyte 465 7702 making … all available at Harmony Farm, Waitati. MILK VENDOR Kelvin Lyon for all your milk, See: www.gemstonetherapy.info/volunteering. cream, flavoured milk, custard and fruit juice Tel html 482 2698 WOMEN: Interested in exploring the Christian LOCAL SHOP Blueskin General Store, State faith with some others? Free on Tuesday nights? Hwy 1, Waitati: 7.30am-8.30pm Mon-Sat; If so, feel free to join some other women at 9am-8pm Sun. Tel 482 2741 22 Orokonui Rd, Waitati on Tuesday nights of HOME ENHANCER Available on casual or the school term 7–9pm. We spend the time in regular basis. Services adjusted to your needs. encouraging each other to see God more in daily Flexible – efficient – reliable. Taking care of the life, to listen for His wisdom, and to grow in our small details, enabling you to walk into your Christian faith. We journey “LIFE” together … home with a sigh of relief. “It’s good to be Home.” we laugh lots, we eat some, we pray together, References available. Contact: ara 473 7883 or we cry sometimes, we read the Bible too … we 021 256 6473 enjoy being women getting to know each other ART SHED Original gifts including cards, prints, and God more. If you’d like to know more, or paintings, tee shirts, patches and other unique join us, we’d love you to. Phone Helen Beamish handprinted souvenirs. Ideal for posting. Gift 482 1440 or Alison Appleby 4822532 or Glenda vouchers available. Art Shed is open first Sunday Rickerby 482 1511 for directions or more of the month from 11am-2pm or by appointment. information Phone Liz 027 6995390 Creative Memories Workshop Where are your photos stored? Would you like to have them labelled, sorted & organised? Have you heard of scrapbooking but don’t know what it’s about? Workshops are held the last Thursday of each month from 7pm at the Warrington Hall. Contact Dawn Hope 482-2787 for more details BASS LESSONS WANTED Bass guitar lessons wanted for learner. Please phone Morgan 482 2331

1 March 2009 Blueskin News 23 Local bus services to Dunedin This is a general guide only. Please confirm all details with the relevant bus company Operator Inter Palm Inter Coastline Palm naked Inter Inter Palm Inter Inter Service city Mini city Penguin Mini bus city city Mini city city days daily M-F daily M-F M-F daily daily Fri&Sun M-F daily Fri&Sun (origin) (Palm) (Oam) (Palm) (CHC) (CHC) (CHC) (Palm) (CHC) (CHC) Depart from Warrington — — — 9.45 am — — — — — — — Evansdale — 7.55 — 9.50 am 12.40 — 1.11 — 4.55 7.25 10.39 am pm pm pm pm pm Waitati — 8.00 — 9.55 am 12.45 1.25 1:13 — 5.00 7.27 10.41 am am pm pm pm pm pm Return from Dunedin 7.45 8.45 12.50 3.45 pm 3.30 2.20 — 5.15pm 5.20 — — am am pm pm pm pm (destination) (CHC) (Palm) (CHC) (Oamaru) (Palm) (CHC) (CHC) (Palm)

Local buses: here stops unless pre-booked • Coastline Tours Penguin Bus: Times are very • Intercity Coachlines intercity.co.nz phone approximate and are for the Oamaru-Dunedin Dunedin 471 7143. Fares $10-20. Fare can be Shuttle operated by Coastline Tours, bookings reduced to about $5 for very frequent travel essential, tel 03 434 7744 or call the driver: using their ‘FlexiPass’. 027 2565651. Their services are door-to-door • nakedbus.com phone (on an expensive 0900 which is nice if you have luggage. Fare subject number) 0900 NAKED. Fare is $9-$10 or as to negotiation, about $9. low as $1 if booked zillions of days in advance. • Palmerston Minibus Services: has the This is the cheapest theoretical way to get to cheapest “walk-up” fares ($4.50-7.50) because Dunedin, probably cheaper than walking. it is ratepayer-funded by the Otago Regional Note: nakedbus.com does not stop at Evansdale Council . Bookings are recommended, tel 03 (email enquiries @ nakedbus.com and ask 465 1229 or call the driver 027 262 2465. them to consider doing so). Long Distance buses can also be used to and from Other bus companies whose short-distance fare Dunedin, but short-distance fares on them are policies make them completely inappropriate not favourable unless booked well in advance or for travel to or from Dunedin are omitted from purchased in bulk by using a pass. Note: this guide. • these times are very likely to change Guide maintained by Peter Dowden: editors @ • neither long-distance bus company mentioned blueskin.co.nz

Colin Hall Fencing Contractor Specializing in Lifestyle Blocks Tel: 03 482 2110 Cell: 027 326 4678 E Mail: [email protected] New Fences & Old Fence Repairs Restoration Maintenance & More

24 Blueskin News 1 March 2009