September 2017 Beautiful South Westland

ROSS Muri Paekau-Richards [email protected] ph. 03 755 4126

HARI HARI Karyn at SWAS [email protected] ph. 03 753 3160

WHATAROA Karla Maisey [email protected] ph. 03 753 4028

OKARITO Rina Sjardin-Thompson [email protected]

FRANZ JOSEF [email protected]

FOX GLACIER Sarah Hickson [email protected] The Community Contact is compiled from the contributions of the people of South Westland. Articles, items, news, recipes, stories, etc, from everyone are most 0212478894 welcome. All personal opinions should be signed and publication is at the discretion of the Community Contact team. The views expressed in Community Contact are not SOUTH necessarily the views of the CC board. Brenda Monk Send your articles or adverts to your contact or e-mail to [email protected] by [email protected] 15 September to be included in the October issue. Home ph. 03 751 0892 Work ph. 03 751 0837 ADVERTISING RATES

Full Page $150.00 1/2 Page $80.00 HAAST 1/4 Page $40.00 1/8 Page $20.00 Paul Gurney Address: Community Contact, Counter Delivery, Post Centre, South [email protected] Westland 7834 NEWSLETTER COMPILER We prefer online banking payments directly into the Bank Account: Karyn Mathieson at SWAS Community Contact 12 3166 0042300 02 with your name & what the deposit is [email protected] for. Please do not send cash. ph. 03 753 3160 A Donation of $10 per subscriber once a year would be much appreciated if possible. Kids there is a kitten Your support would help us out a lot. hidden some where Thank you to everyone who donated last month. in the Contact, see if you can find it. 1 DoC September 2017 What’s happening at DOC? sanctuary to avoid predation by stoats, then incubated Hooray – the first kiwi eggs of the season have been and hatched at the West Coast Wildlife Centre and on uplifted and sent to West Coast Wildlife Centre for pest-free islands in the Marlborough Sounds, before hatching. Fingers will be crossed and all eyes will be returning to Okarito or Haast. The programme has been on these little bundles. a huge success so far - rowi recently moved from a Nationally Critical threat classification to Nationally This month we held a fundraising evening for Mental Vulnerable. This is a rare occurrence for New Health Foundation in both Haast and Franz Josef. Zealand’s native fauna, so it’s a huge success for the Hosted by our Mental Health ambassador the amazing species and all those involved in its protection. Katrina Henderson, with support from local businesses and BNZ, some awesome prizes were raffled and Last month one of our adult ONE birds was killed on a auctioned. Down in Haast, the BNZ staff from Wanaka road in North Ōkārito. This bird, Monte Carlo, had closed their doors for 24hrs and headed over to Haast to been hatched and raised in captivity before returning to support our fundraiser and to help on the Dennis Road Ōkārito Sanctuary, and was just coming up to breeding Community Track the next day. Community members age. The body was found by a member of the public, joined in and an impressive amount of work was done. and a post-mortem concluded that a vehicle was likely More information next month. to be the cause of death. This is a sad reminder to News from Owen –Visitor Assets team member anyone driving at night in areas where kiwi live to be extra careful. Kiwi have no road sense, and Ōkārito Growth in tourist numbers – summer employment opportunities DOC actively monitors visitor locals have reported a number of sightings along the numbers at many of our popular tourist sites. In the past road recently, including a near miss. twelve months, an estimated 727,000 people visited the Penguins valley. This is a 23% increase on the previous year. The combined visitor numbers for Breeding has also begun for tawaki (Fiordland crested the valley and Lake Matheson are also penguin), who nest along the coast from South estimated to be in the order of 700,000. If this trend Westland down to Stewart Island. With between 2500 continues over the following summer we are and 3000 breeding pairs, tawaki are classed as anticipating total visitor numbers to the South Westland Nationally Vulnerable, and unfortunately their numbers icon sites (Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Lake are probably still declining. These cute little birds are Matheson and Ship Creek) to approach two million at high risk during breeding season as they are people! To cope with the pressure of increasing visitor particularly susceptible to introduced predators and numbers, DOC is increasing the number of summer human disturbance. Dogs or humans disturbing nesting staff employed and the duration of their contracts as sites may cause the penguins to flee, resulting in higher well as improving facilities and servicing of popular nest failures. Please keep this in mind when accessing visitor and camping sites. Summer staff vacancies will areas where tawaki are present. Do not approach birds, be advertised in the next couple of weeks. Keep a nests or areas of beach where penguin tracks are lookout on seek.co.nz, the DOC website or ask to speak common, and keep your dog on a leash. with one of the recreation team supervisors at the Whitebait season – we have been out doing pre-season offices in Fox or Franz. checks and back pegs. Please familiarise yourself with Haast VC numbers for the 12 mths July 16 to June 17 the rules – ignorance is not an excuse. Whitebait regulations are on the Whitebait Association webpage July 2017 July 2016 2704 2959 http://www.westcoastwhitebaiters.co.nz/ Please remember that camping on public conservation News from Jacinda & Stacey –Bio assets & threats team members (helping keep our pests under control land is permitted for short periods only if you are self- and protecting our flora and fauna) contained and do not interfere with waterways or Kiwi – rowi and Haast tokoeka: construct permanent structures. Unsure? Ask at your local DOC office. Skyranger (aerial tracking of kiwi signals done by Blair Hoult in a fixed-wing plane) has detected many nests Haast Roar 2018 throughout the Okarito and Haast sanctuaries, so the Information on the Haast Roar will be available on the DOC website on the 1st September 2017. Applications team will be heading in to collect each of these eggs th nd over the next few months. “Maurne” a Haastie not open on the 4 September and close at 4pm on the 2 monitored previously has been spotted incubating. October 2017. All applications must be entered via the This is a great addition to a small crew of kiwi. online application system. No emailed or posted Operation Nest Egg sees kiwi eggs lifted from the applications will be accepted.

2 Hari Hari September 2017 HARI HARI INDOOR BOWLS COMMUNITY OPP SHOP

Indoor bowls is now up and running. We meet every Open Thursday Wednesday at 7.30 pm in the Community Hall. All 10 am until 4 pm welcome, including children. Any unwanted items are always welcome. A gold coin donation would be appreciated. All bowls and mats are supplied. All proceeds go back into our community. Any questions please contact Charles Lucas 7533155 or Situated next to the Pukeko Store. Tom Clarkson 7533039. We are also looking for volunteers to help run the shop. COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION You can choose the hours and days you work. A reminder the Community Association meetings are If you or a friend is keen to do this please contact every third Wednesday 7pm in the Community Hall. Helene Hindman on 7533017. Please support your local community and help make our IT WOULD BE A REAL SHAME TO SEE THE town somewhere you would want to stop. SHOP CLOSE DOWN. Enquiries to Brian Manera (President)

WOODHAM SHIELD TIME COAL SUPPLIES What a great turn out for Woodham Shields first 20kg bags $12.50 game. The weather was shocking but it was great to see Available from Lions Club of South Westland so many of you leave your warm cosy homes to support our Hari Hari Team. All funds raised are returned to South Westland Unfortunately we did not manage to keep the shield Communities here but the game itself was outstanding. Many people We do an annual donation of $100 to local Youthline said it was the best game they have watched between Phone: Hari Hari and Franz/Fox. The final score for the game Hari Hari and North, John Clarkson 7533393, Neville was 20/5 to Franz/Fox. Well done Black and White. Adamson 7533355 Robin Davey 7533070 Whataroa, Andy Dobson 7534086 A huge thanks to Farmlands for supplying hot food South on the day. From the BBQ we raised $136 for four of our local children going to Fiji next April to play Rug- For all enquiries re funding for individuals, groups and by and Netball. Thank you also to Hotel Hari Hari for organisations Phone: Michelle 0273849501 or e-mail hosting the after match function. [email protected] We look forward to the challenge in 2018 and we hope to bring the shield back. Thank you in advance for your support.

3 Hari Hari September 2017 NEWS FROM HARI HARI

NATIONALS AREA SCHOOL TOURNAMENT We (James Nicolas, Tayla Hodges and Redmond Johnston) competed in the Top of the South Area Schools Tournament in Tapawera late March. From this we were then selected to go to trials in Murchison for the National Tournament. All three of us made the cut and were selected for Nationals. This year it was the North Island’s turn to host with Nationals being held in Whangarei. The tournament lasted four days with each of us playing our selected code daily. James was selected for Rugby and Kai-O-Rahi, Redmond for Soccer and Tayla for the Netball B team. Our accommodation during the tournament was at the Whangarei Boys High School boarding house. The tournament itself was played at the Kingston ASB Stadium. Along with the Top of the South Teams there were also Central and South of the South who also competed. The aim of this tournament is for the and North Island to play against each other for the National’s winners cup. Everyone participated in a round robin for each of their sports. This was played for three days, then on Wednesday night they announced the South Island and North Island teams to play off against each other the following day. We all were selected for the South Island Team: Redmond for soccer, James for Kai-O-Rahi and Tayla for Netball B team. On Thursday we played North Island vs South Island and at 2.15 pm the National Team was announced. Tayla made it into the New Zealand Netball B Team (there is no further competition at this level, just selection). Unfortunately, James and Redmond did not make it through but competed exceptionally well throughout the whole tournament. Overall, the National Tournament was a great success for each of us. Redmond was selected to represent the South Island and scored a goal in the final. Tayla was selected to represent Netball B in finals, narrowly losing to North and was named in the National squad. James was selected to represent the South Island in the final and won. By James, Tayla and Redmond

UNDER 15 AND 1st XV RUGBY AGAINST ENGLAND During the school holidays James Nicolas, Joe Glancy and Jack Greig played for the 1st XV Westland High School Rugby Team against Sherborne High from England. The 1st XV played under lights on Sunday 16 July, and on Monday Cameron Mathieson, Jayden Wyatt and Alex Maisey all played for the Under 15 Westland High School Team. Both Westland High School teams played really well. I would like to say how proud I am of the Under 15 team. They played an exceptional game against some very large lads and never gave up. Also the Haka they did at the beginning of the game was absolutely outstanding. (Gave me goose bumps) The Sherborne boys were all billeted out by our players. They were a lovely bunch of lads to have. On Monday evening both teams had a get together in Hokitika for prize giving and dinner. It was good to see the interaction with each other and having a good time. Our teams did the Haka again and Sherborne sung us a song. Unfortunately both WHS teams lost but the experience was amazing for them. By Karyn Mathieson-Manager

4 Hari Hari September 2017 NEWS FROM HARI HARI

SOUTH WESTLAND NETBALL CLUB SPRING FOOD FUNDRAISER We would like to thank all of our supporters for this fundraiser. Thomson's Butchery supplied all of the bacon for us and many families donated cheese and mince and various other items. A big thank you to the Hari Hari Community Association for letting us use the Community Hall and to Elsa and Mac MacRae for the use of Mt Adam Lodge as well. Without your support we could not have made all of the delicious orders that our community bought. Thank you to our players who made the effort to sell the orders and those who came on the day to make them. It was a big mission but we got there! We hope everyone enjoys the food they ordered.

HARI HARI ST JOHN REPORT We had a very entertaining night at our last training night. Constable Jim from Ross attended to meet and greet and for us to have a chat with him. Before the evening was finished, he had been strapped in a KED, had his ankle bandaged and his arm in a sling. Thank you for joining our practical session Jim. We look forward to your next visit! We finally have 814 back on station after being in the garage for repair and maintenance. Thank you Claire and Vicky for taking 974 back and picking up 814. The West Coast Youth Competitions were on at Greymouth High School on Saturday 12th August. A great turn out of youth from Karamea in the North to Hokitika in the South competing in the various skill stations. They ranged from First steps, Junior, Intermediate and Senior teams and individuals. A great day finished with the awards presentation. I have been going to these competitions for a number of years and helping out by being a judge. The skill level of the youth is excellent and they are such a lovely group of people. Youth are awesome! Regional competitions will be held on 30th September at Shantytown. Everyone is welcome to come along and witness some excellent skills from these young people. Training nights for September are 11th and 25th. If you are interested in coming along and seeing if the Ambulance Service is for you please do so. It starts at 7.30 pm. Contact Maggie on 021669196 as to where the venue will be. Take Care. Maggie Houston SM

5 Hari Hari September 2017 THE EARLY SCHOOLS

Up Until 1885, there had been no effort at schooling the four Hende and two Peterson children of school age in the district. The parents decided to rectify this situation, and a teacher was brought down from Ross to set up a household school. After breakfast at Hende’s Ferry, the dining room, known as “ The Big Room”, was cleared, and it was here that the pupils assembled. The teacher was Miss Lucy Thiele and in 1886 Miss Marion Thiele took over from her sister. At 17 years of age she was barely older than her oldest pupil. She had been edducated at Ross and had passed her standard six examination in 1884. As was usual, the brightest girl was often given the chance to become a teacher somewhere. This was decided by the school inspectors. The children were taught to read, write, speak and do practical things so they would adapt to a remote settler lifestyle. Marion Thiele was followed by Miss Florence Dannier, and in 1889 she in turn was replaced by Rachael Denia, all these teachers being in their mid to late teenage years. In 1890 a more mature teacher was appointed, and the district was very fortunate to obtain the services of a very educated man in George Scott Robertson. Hende’s Ferry was too far away for the Ferguson children who lived at Little Wanganui (Poerua) to attend. The Jense Hende family at “The Willows” were also now of school age. Scott Robertson decided that a more central school was required, so he approached the Education Department. They supplied money for windows, a door and roofing material. Some locals felled large totara trees and pit-sawed the timber. Scott Robertson and Fred Smith carried the timber on their shoulders to the top of Middle Hill where the school was built. During the summer holidays of 1891, a gang of locals erected the first public school. It was officially called Inter Wanganui but was referred to by locals as Middle Hill. The builders were Hans Peterson, Fred Smith, Jense Hende, Tom Ferguson and Scott Robertson. This school opened in February 1892 with a roll of 10. The Ferguson children rode horses with their younger siblings clinging on behind the older riders. At the end of 1889, Scott Robertson resigned to marry one of his oldest pupils, Caroline Hende. He was replaced in 1890 by Miss Teresa Murphy whose parents lived at Saltwater. In later years, she rose to fame as a radio personality on station 3ZR Greymouth. She broadcast under the name “Aunt Daisy” and gave interesting talks on lifestyle, general hints, housekeeping tips and recipes. Miss Murphy resigned in 1904, her place being taken by Margaret McNichol. The roll remained fairly consistent at about 10 pupils. About 1908 big changes were taking place with more settlers taking up blacks down La Fontaine and across the flat. Once again a new more central, larger school was needed. Janet Ferguson donated land across from the present school and after Mick Boyle had carted the timber by dray from Ross, building began. The contract went to Charlie Chesterman for a price of 172 pounds. ($348) Middle Hill had become seriously overcrowded, and it was a relief when the new second public school was opened on 1 July, 1909, with a roll of 23 and teacher Miss Alice Nancekivell. The roll of this school grew as more settlers arrived during the 1920’s. At one stage, half the pupils were taught at the school, while the other half attended school at the public hall on the main road. By 1925 a Miss Duncan taught at school and Jessie Sharland at the hall. In 1926 a new larger two room school was built on the site of the present school. The second school became the Presbyterian Church. The roll of the new school varied from 62-120 as the various industries and government departments grew. I am unsure when the buildings changed, but in 1970-71 the status of the school changed to primary (158 on roll) and South High School (34 on roll). Another change occurred in 1977 when the school became integrated as South Westland Area School. The district has indeed been fortunate in having excellent educational facilities and also wonderful staff who bring out the best in our young people. Herepo School. This one room school was built in 1910 by locals and operated until 1925. This was situated on the banks of the La Fontaine stream. Evans Creek School. Some of the households at Evans Creek and Mount Bonar were rather isolated. A school was built here sited on the bank of the creek in 1926. It operated on a stop-start basis as the number of pupils dictated. It closed in 1946 and the building was transported to the school at Hari Hari and became part of that. The pupils were then picked up by bus and brought to this school. By Charles Lucas

6 James Print Insert September 2017 DEFIBRILLATORS IN SOUTH WESTLAND THE START OF THE COMMUNITY CONTACT There was a first aid course at Haast during the school A photo of the original Community Contact crew taken in holidays and it was suggested that we publish a list of all the about 1986! L to R sitting: Stasia Kennedy with son Brendon, AED defibrillators available and their locations and Maree Maddock (Postill), Pete Browne and Carrol Browne. accessibility. Below you will find where you can get access to Standing: Eve Nissen and Jan Rawstron. a defibrillator. The other 12 associated kids were banished somewhere. We always met in the priest’s house in Whataroa (bless them all) and moved heaven and earth to have our monthly get Bruce Bay – inside the door of the hall, key up on the ledge together. Community Contact was our lifeline! Bruce Postill beside the door. (Note to say the defibrillator is at the Marae would take our pages and work his magic on the trusty gestetner when it is.) to take it to print in their garage the next day and then teams of great volunteers would compile the pages. Okarito

The defibrillator for Okarito is hanging on the fence to the left of Donovan’s Store in the centre of the township. There is no key so is readily accessible.

Franz Josef

In Franz Josef you can get a defibrillator from the following places:

Franz Medical Centre - at the front desk

DOC Office - at the Front desk

Franz Josef Glacier Guides - at the Front desk

Franz Josef Four Square Supermarket - Down stairs office

Scenic Hotel - Reception

Hari Hari

Defibrillators for Hari Hari are located at the following places:

St John Station - Maggie Houston

Fire Station - J H McIntosh

Haast SWAS AND THE CONTACT Police Station The first teacher at SWAS to help with the distribution job was Primary School at Hannah’s Clearing – beside the Mrs Heather Schmetz and I took over from Heather in the early office 1990's. Our role at SWAS was to put all the pages together in the Jackson Bay – in a wood shed underneath “Rimu correct order, put them in bundles of 25 (with rubber bands) and House”, though this has just been sold apparently so prepare them for delivery to all the Post Offices/Centres in South may not be called this, or have the name anywhere. I Westland plus to prepare individual copies to be posted all can’t remember seeing the name. If you drive along the around New Zealand to libraries, ex-South Westlanders etc. With close to a 1, 000 copies to collate that was quite a task for waterfront past the Cray Pot etc, turn left and drive up 8,9 and 10 year olds but they never let me down, and despite a the hill, then it’s about 1 o’clock to your right at the top. few close shaves, the mail always got through. The house is beside a big, flash 2-storied house owned I would like to say that Community Contact was never ever by Dennis Nyhon, to the left of this. (I phoned Meg for done as a Detention (or even a Detonation) and it was always good directions.) seen as a Community Service and an excellent way for the In the Haast ambulance students to learn to work as a team and to feel pride in a job done In the Haast nurse’s car. well. In the early days when grants were much more readily available, the Community Contact Committee was quite flush Fox and each month the school was paid a small amount for our There is one behind reception at the Heartland Hotel, efforts. This money was very helpful when it came time for our one in the Guides first response kit, and mobile ones in annual class camp helping to keep costs down and was also used the fire truck, ambulance, and nurse's car. to purchase important classroom furniture like a table tennis table. (When the boss wasn't looking) The one common denominator over the whole life of the Community Contact has been Brenda. While many have come and gone, Brenda has always been there and for many many years she was the mainstay in all areas from Go to Whoa. When the Community Contact started in 1984, South Westland was a very different place and the newsletter has played an important role in bringing us all closer together. Much of the credit for this must go to Brenda and the great teams she has gathered around her to keep the newsletter going through thick and thin. I salute you, Brenda, for your wonderful work over many years with Community Contact. A magnificent effort. Jim Costello

7 Ross September 2017 COMMUNITY CONTACT DONATION BOXES $143.00 collected so a big thank you Ross Community! Banked on Wed August 2nd at ASB Hokitika.

MCR - BAKE OFF 2017 A great day was had at the first CARES - Community Assisting Ross Enterprise Socially - event: THE ROSS MCR - MY CAKE RULES BAKE OFF 2017 on Sunday August 13.

Pictured from left are CARES volunteers: Rose Wilson, Anne Gilganis from Ruatapu, and Jeanette Hall at the ROSS MCR - MY CAKE RULES BAKE OFF 2017. With twenty seven entries from both children and adults, the Pictured: Abyee Leaf - Winner of the ROSS MCR - MY day was a great success. CAKE RULES BAKE OFF 2017. Despite the wet weather our local Ross community turned out to support, sample and vote on the best cake to be had. It was tough going really. They all looked amazing and tasted even better! A big thank you to both the WRENIS group and the Ross Community Society for supporting CARES with this event. A very special thank you to Amon, Juby and Douglas Howitt from the Ross Store for coming up with the idea, donating the prize money and the winner’s cup. Pictures and videos are up on the CARES - Community Assisting Ross Enterprise Socially, group Facebook page. My Cake Rules Winners: Adult Cakes - 1st Abby Leaf $150, 2nd Kath Maitland $100, 3rd Pixie Manera-Maguire $50. Children's Cakes: 1st Amelia Dick $20, 2nd Ella Wilson $10, 3rd equal Summer Dove/ Myron-Cade Procter $5. WELL DONE AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND MAKING IT A REALLY FUN AND ENJOYABLE DAY! $128.10 for registrations, $281.20 for cake sales, so $409.30 in total. This money will be put toward our next community event! We’d love to get more people involved so anyone wanting to assist on events with the CARES group can contact me directly or join our Facebook page to stay informed. There is also the opportunity for some of our teenagers to video and edit coverage of the events so please get in touch regarding this. It would be a really cool project for the right person or people!

8 Ross September 2017 ROSS FIRE BRIGADE

Following last month’s community profile on Jack Greig and the Youth and Emergency Services (YES) Programme, I caught up with Deputy Fire Chief, Rick Fennell at the Ross Fire Brigade as they gear up for their 150 year Anniversary celebration next year. Established in 1868, Ross has always had a brigade and is the 3rd oldest on the West Coast after Hokitika and Greymouth. With approx 380 brigades in the country only around 20 have reached this milestone. Pretty impressive for a small town with a population of around 300 people. In the late 1800’s, with a population of 4.500, Ross had two fire stations, one of which was at the top of the hill on Aylmer St. The reason for this was that the carts carrying the hoses were physically pushed so it made sense to have two in the township to save pushing one up hill should there be a fire in that part of town! Practical. Genius. There are currently 17 volunteer members here in Ross, a diverse group made up of builders, mine workers, school teachers, farmers, lime workers, timber mill workers and hairdressers. They all share the same value of wanting to give something back to our community. They work closely with St John’s and the Police. As Medical First Responders (there are only two on the Coast - the other is based in Moana), they are trained to administer intramuscular, are up with ambulance training, attend medical calls and car accidents. Natural events are on the increase, so flooding, wind storms and trees down have all become part of their norm. The camaraderie Rick says, is not just regional but national. Competing in waterway events, driving events, combat challenges and road crash rescues with brigades from other regions develops great friendships. He thinks the YES Programme is a great thing for young adults and sows a good seed for volunteering within the communities that they might be a part of in the future. The volunteers cover the same basic training as a recruit firefighter in Health & Safety, Breath Apparatus, Radio Communications and Hose work. After 8 weeks they will receive a covering letter that sets them on the right track, should they decide that they want to volunteer for a brigade in the future. * Anyone wanting more information on next years 150th Anniversary celebration can contact the Ross Fire Brigade directly.

Pictured from left are Deputy Fire Chief, Rick Fennell and YES volunteers Jack Greig & Saeed Gul.

Ross Fire Station

9 Ross September 2017 THE ROSS COMMUNITY PROFILES Yeah...some new industry do you think… Yeah. But it’s to attract that industry to come here. Umm..I know they’ve tried hard in Westport I was reading the other day. Because we’re a wee bit out of the way you got to service that industry as materials have to be transported here and transported away as a finished article. If you can cut the transport one way that would be good but I think that’s what affects a lot of people to come here. To start up industry here. Tourism is good but it’s limited. In the winter now - there’s nothing happening. That’s my feeling. What is it about the Coast that makes it significant? Ohh...it’s unique it its own way. That’s my feeling. You know they call Haast area the last frontier. Not many places you’ll see where y’know they’re on the horses mustering the cattle and that. That’s becoming a thing of the past. There are places in the North Island that still do that sorta thing too. But we’re unique. Some people refer to it as being the Wild West Coast but I don’t think it’s wild it’s just unique in its own way. The way we’ve done things and how things have gone. Like um, y’know... a lot of the older pioneering people...we just go ahead. To hell with anybody else, parliamentarians and that we’d just do it. And get it done. Longer you wait, nothing happens see. Just do it! Get it done! They were innovators weren’t they? YEAH!! Yip. Had to be done. Right! Went and done it. In one of the toughest areas of New Zealand to be doing WHO ARE YOU? things… Well, I’m Bernie Ellis. I was born and bred in the Waitaha Valley. Yeah well...some people say it’s tough. I dunno as I say, I been We moved up here (to Ross) with my late parents in the mid 70’s. here all me life. I don’t recognise it as being tough. You talk to Yeah...I’ve spent twenty odd years driving trucks on and off. Round people from away and they say “oh don’t know how you can about. Tied up with farming. I spent two years at boarding school in handle that, it’s rainin every day” I say, it doesn’t rain every day. Oamaru. That was a big culture shock when I first went there. You get more rain in Auckland than what we get here and people say “oh that’s not right”. I say it is. You go and have a look at the Yeah...from the Waitaha, 28 kids and when I went to St Kevins stats. Lot of our rain falls overnight. Yeah admittedly we get a college there was 365! (laughs). But they were good days. It was a big rainfall compared to Canterbury but...we can handle that! good thing. You learned to look after yourself and find your own What do you think our community needs more of? mates...yeah. And it paid out later on in life when I got pulled up to More work opportunities for the younger people and the younger the National Services in the army. I didn’t have a hassle where a lot of people would stay here. guys did cos they’d never been through living in dormitories. Well it’s a beautiful lifestyle here if you’ve got children...and I’d sorta been through that at boarding school. You learned to say yes if you love to fish and hunt… and no and keep ya mouth shut and speak when ya spoken to. Yeah.. I Yeah. Well it’s all at your back door, that type of thing. We’re still think the National Services in the army should still be going. Sort used to it. We don’t recognise it. I know when I was involved out some of the problems we got with some of the youth. They would with scouts for a few years. We’d have scout camps and some find that when they go in there and when they got out ...they would Canterbury kids and people would come over and they’d say “we like it! A lot of guys I knew joined up. They’d done 12 weeks and got travel for hours to get the kids on an outdoor camp somewhere, a taste of it. you fella’s you’re only half an hour down the road...not even What was your biggest take away from being in an environment that! It’s at your back door”. So unless you come from like that? away...you see it all. You learned more discipline than what we did in school and the main So the work is one thing, but what else? thing, old school type stuff - ya shut up and didn’t chat back. Respect Well if you’ve got the population here you’d probably get more your elders and your rank and the servicemen above you. Cos if you sports activities happening. Years ago we used to have a rugby didn’t…. team but there was a lot of people here then. We had a saw mill ...there were consequences...like a thousand press ups or down the road, the railway down the road, plus you had the bush something right? gangs that fed the saw mills.There was half a dozen log truck (Bursts into laughter)...yeah...yeah! drivers here. Well when the saw mill stopped, they just quietly So what are you passionate about within our West Coast moved away. Pretty hard to bring that back. There’s no real community? industry here. Ohh well...we need things, improvements, work that creates jobs. What about more events? (cue CARES plug…;-) Like the industries that are around we’ve gotta keep as many here as Yeah, but with a small population you’ve got the same people we can otherwise...well, we’ve been through it. We’ve had the doing the same things all the time. forestry go and now the coal mining’s gone. Coal mining will come How do you get people involved into it? back to an extent but it won’t be as good as what it was. And its What would you say to encourage people to get more employment in an area, everybody takes off, young people go away to involved? work and there’s no young population here. You find it with your I dunno...roll out a keg of beer and a bbq and we’ll meet down sports teams; there’s no younger people. You struggle to get these the rugby ground!! (bursts into laughter)...bring your kids for a sports teams, like ya rugby teams. The younger ones have gone and game! (more laughter). That sorta gets people around! there’s nothing to bring them back here. There was an influx in the What do you think our community needs less of? farming scene but that seems to have levelled off. A lot of those I dunno. There’s not much here that is a problem, I people are not sports minded either cos they can’t get time off to do it. suppose...yeah dunno. That’s got me a bit buggered...WE NEED Yeah, we have to keep our industries and perhaps find some more… LESS RAIN! More sunshine. Ha! Good answer. Awesome Bernie. Thank you! Ok, final note/ words of wisdom. (He disappears and comes back with a framed picture belonging to his late mother).

10 Franz Josef September 2017

11 Franz Josef September 2017

12 Franz Josef September 2017

13 Bruce Bay September 2017

Bruce Bay Sports Day and Bruce Bay Ball! Other ways you can help Sunday 22nd October 10 am Donations of items for our sales table, including white Stalls– Book a stall now to buy, sell, exchange. Anything! elephants and that thing that Aunty Alice bought us, Community groups, fundraising, education, information, stalls baking, produce, plants, etc. $10.00 Ideas of fun things to do. Baking - What are you going to come up with this year for Run an event - Every year we struggle to find enough people your gateau? The gateaux were amazing last year, can we top it power to run any extra events or implement ideas people come this year? Have a practice run making a traditional cream sponge! up with. Kids, don’t forget to bake some cup cakes! Cakes to be ready for judging by 12 noon. Rules next month! Donations of Raffle Prizes - It is great to be able to offer a full and worthwhile raffle table. Hospitality Event - Get your team together to compete in this fun event! Bed making, table setting and definitely some surprise Items for the grocery hamper needed too please. elements introduced by the judges! Donations of Whitebait - for the raffle and for cooking during Children’s Events the day and then for supper at the ball. The children’s events were so much fun last year and we think we Finger Food for the continuous supper at the ball have the right formula! Can you help to make this the best year Volunteer to help! We are always looking for more hands. We ever for the kids? Contact Lisa please (details below!) rely on the help of an enthusiastic team of helpers from far and The Ball - Theme this year is Casino Royal (James Bond). wide. Woohoo! Belle and Beau of the Ball Competition!! Get all dolled up!! The Band - An all new line up of The Elevators! Guaranteed to give us all a great time—Bruce Bay style! The bus is running again from Fox as well. Ball starts 9.00 pm. Facebook - Bruce Bay Community keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates. We will post more information after our next meeting. Ask us questions, give us feedback, make suggestions. Let’s make this a great and happy occasion for everyone! Become a sponsor! Congratulations Charlie Morgan, QSM! The Bruce Bay Sports Day and Ball draw a large crowd and are the perfect events for sponsors to get noticed, both on the day and in publications following it. We are seeking sponsorship now! Sponsorship can be financial or in product, and it can be for a particular raffle or competition. Our raffles include: men’s, ladies’, children’s, grocery, romantic weekend get away, adventure weekend getaway, amongst others (perhaps you’ve got an idea for a new one?). Funds raised for and during the Sports Day are used to run the Sports Day and Ball, for maintenance and upgrade of our hall, and for community projects. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Lisa on 7510170 or email [email protected]

Contacts: Carol Scott Ph 751 0898 [email protected] Lisa Reinhardt Ph 751 0170 [email protected] John Birchfield Ph 751 08095 [email protected] Jacqui Low Ph 751 0095 [email protected] Maree Wilson Ph 751 0882 [email protected] Paul Wilson Ph 751 0882 [email protected] Nicky Harris Ph 751 0114 [email protected] Alice Bellio [email protected] Catherine Montague [email protected] Brenda Monk Ph 751 0892 [email protected] 14 Licensed Building Practitioner New Homes, Additions, Renovations, Concrete Work, Gib Stopping; Tiling and Finishing Work a Specialty Phone: 751 0170 Cell: 0272 751017 Email: [email protected]

GLACIER CONCRETE For all your concrete needs in Westland Call Tim Gibb on 0211584043 to discuss your requirements. Driveways, dairy sheds, lime bins, foundations, pole sheds, animals shelters, standoff areas, farm race ways etc. Now might be the time to add a concrete patio or pathway. Glacier Contracting can also provide gravel , sand, large stones for soak holes etc and can do your site preparation work. Call Tim for a free no obligation quote. Email [email protected]

15 Fox Glacier September

Check Out: www.glaciercommuity.org.nz FOX GLACIER Like Us On: www.facebook.com/ foxglaciercommunity www.facebook.com/ourplaceinfox Contact Us: [email protected] 0212478894 August saw the annual battle that is the Woodham Shield. Hari Hari held the Shield from last year, and first up in this round was the mighty team from Fox Franz Haast! Game One was played in Hari Hari on the 6th of August. It was a hard fought battle between the SEPTEMBER MEETING Southern Boys and the lads from Hari Hari, in muddy, THURSDAY 14 SEPTEMBER wet conditions, but our boys managed to come out on top with a 20-15 victory! The FFH cheerleaders made 7 pm - COMMUNITY CENTRE the most of the muddy field by throwing a post game ALL WELCOME mud wrestling match! Well done Hari Hari! Circuit Training - Tuesdays 6 pm Game Two was held on the 13th August at the infamous Badminton Club - Tuesdays 7.30 pm Snarler Park here in Fox. FFH were defending the Shield Volleyball - Wednesdays 6 pm against a somewhat mysterious team from Ross. It was Netball/Games - Wednesdays another cold and wet day here on the coast, but the Cheerleaders managed to arrive in style, thanks to Fox and 7.30 pm Franz Heli services, The Heli line, and Glacier Helicopters. Want to get an activity going? The rain cleared not long after kick-off, and our boys Contact Sarah thrived on the home turf, churning out a decisive 34-0 [email protected] victory against the Northern folk. Good game Ross, but George stays here for now! At the time of writing, Game Three has not yet happened, but I’m sure we all enjoyed the fierce rivalry between the mighty Fox Franz Haast force and the Whataroa boys! I’m certainly looking forward to this weekend! Let’s hope the boys managed to defend the Shield! Go Black and White!!

“Go Black and White, let’s take this Shield!’” - FFH

THE BASKETBALL HOOPS ARE IN!

16 September 2017

Whitebait season is nearly here. Don’t let sandflies spoil your time on the riverbank. Try Okarito Sandfly Repellent. It’s natural, contains no DEET (the stuff that can ruin whitebait nets and clothing) and it really works! Available at DOC visitor centres, Four Square supermarkets and other food stores and campgrounds. Check out our website www.okaritosandflyrepellent.co.nz

17 Haast September 2017 During the school holidays the Allstars put on a movie at the Haast Hall with our new TV-Video. 14 people came to enjoy the movie “Guardians Of The Galaxy”. Ice creams were kindly donated by the Haast Beach Holiday Park and the Motels & Holiday Park. Thanks to Gail and Barbara who organised this.

FIREARMS SECURITY Some recent incidents have highlighted the importance of locking away your firearms. If you are a firearms license holder, your firearms (whether you have some or not), must be stored correctly.

1. Lock away your firearm and ammunition separately. 2. Never leave a firearm in a vehicle that is unattended. 3. A young child must not be able to gain access to firearms. 4. Firearms must be secured against theft. We discussed the building of a wood shed on the end of the Haast Hall porch. This will be lockable and will be Do not leave them lying round the house or shed. There also good to keep the barbecue. Garry Norton will be will be consequences if they are found insecure. helping us. Also Ray Jepson will get us a box to keep our cutlery in. Thank you both Ray and Garry for helping us JULY 21ST 2017 with this project. HEARTLAND HOTEL ALLSTARS Our next meeting will be at the Prickly Gorse Café on the 16th August 2017. On the 21st July the Allstars monthly meeting was held at the Heartland Hotel. There were 9 Allstars present and all HAAST SCHOOL CAMP thoroughly enjoyed their meals. Thank you Tracy and staff A classroom above Arrowtown and the Wakatipu basin. for the generosity shown to us with the tasty mains, pudding and drink.

Seven students plus staff and some parent help travelled to Wanaka and Queenstown in early August for their annual school camp. The students took part in rock climbing, cross country skiing at the Snow Farm, ice skating and had a good look around the Highlands Motorsport Park at Cromwell. A morning was also spent at Makarora school catching up with the students and teachers there. The weather turned out a lot warmer than last year.

While having lunch we were treated to the sight of an Army helicopter, which landed at the airfield. The crew came to the Hotel for their lunch. We found out that they were going orienteering.

18 Haast September 2017 HAAST PROMOTION GROUP

WIRELESS BROADBAND Technology is changing every day. If you live in the Haast district and don’t have wireless broadband but are considering it, you should ask around before signing any lengthy contract with a provider. There are now several companies offering satellite broadband.

MOBILE PHONES If your internet provider is Zelan then you can purchase a device from Vodafone called SURE SIGNAL which you plug into your router. It will give you mobile coverage within 30 metres of your router. Sure Signal is available for purchase at Vodafone outlets and is sometimes available on Trade Me. The other option which many are using is an app called VIBER which you can download. The code will be sent to you via text so you will have to wait until you get into mobile coverage before you can activate this. You will then be able to send and receive texts and calls from anyone who also has the Viber app.

COMPUTER COURSE WestReap are running a two day course in Haast on 1st and 2nd September. Their tutor, John Barry, will be giving one hour, one-on-one tuition to participants for $10 per hour. All places on the course were booked before a poster could be put up. It may be possible to run another one in October. If you would like to attend, please register your interest by email to [email protected] or phone 03 7500022.

WHITEBAIT FESTIVAL Remember 14th October and help us make this day successful. If you would like a stall, please phone Rachel 7500153 or Tania 7500020.

19 Storage Units and Containers available for rent NOW

WEST COAST FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Fresh fruit and vegetable boxes delivered to your home or workplace. Delivering Karamea to Haast; a small delivery fee will apply to certain areas. Based in Greymouth, we travel to Christchurch once a week to collect the boxes. Orders due in each week by 8pm Tuesday, for delivery on Thursday or Friday. Please order online at www.westcoastfruitandvege.co.nz; Further information is available on our website. You can also find us on Facebook. Please feel free to contact us on 03 768 7937

Louise Gault and Brent O’Donnell

20 Okarito September 2017 It’s been a very quiet month here in Okarito with more than half the residents and home owners away for the winter months. Despite their absence, there is much to do to prepare for the oncoming busy summer season. The Campground has had some earthworks done to raise the level of the ground to alleviate flooding issues in anticipation of full occupancy. A huge maintenance effort has been underway with many locals participating in whichever way they can. Local meetings have seen visits by the Civil Defence representative Claire Brown to begin plans to prepare the township for the events of earthquake and tsunami. The village looks forward to an ongoing association with her in order to ensure we are as prepared as we possibly can be. We also had a visit from Nina Robb from D.O.C. to talk about the disposal of weeds and the types of weeds for us to look out for and, in particular, the variety of weeds that are already taking over the surrounding areas to the lagoon. Whilst we have been experiencing on the whole some gorgeous weather, we were treated to a rare sight of the complete opposite of the East Coast’s Nor’West Arch - that being a Sou’East Arch, pictured here.

FEATURE PROFILE: Aaron Smith Aaron Smith is a relative newcomer to Okarito but has settled in nicely and creating a niche for himself. Arriving here almost 2 years ago, he came to run the Beach House. He had never been to the Coast let alone having heard of Okarito so had to look it up on the map. First impressions were that the “community is great, people are nice and totally loved the scenery”….. thereby falling in love with his new home. Since his arrival, he has spent 2 years at the Beach House, while finishing his post graduate accountancy course, and is in the process of setting up his own accountancy business. Since resigning from the Beach House and starting his business, the response from locals had been nothing short of supportive. Being content to stay local servicing small business and individuals, his ethos is “to help people as much as he can” with something whereby their very nature can be quite daunting. Having no real long term plans, the immediate future sees him staying with his new business in his new home. His best advice to anyone regarding business, numbers and tax issues is “don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t know what you don’t know.” On the back of that, if you need any help hesitate to get in touch. Contact details below.

21 CHURCH SERVICES - September 2017 September ‘17

Catholic 1st, 3rd 2nd, 10th 3rd, 17th 5th 1

Ross 2

Hari Hari 9 am 5 pm Sat 9 am 3 FJCC Meeting

Whataroa 10.30 am 9 am 10.30 am 9 am 4 Quiz Night Franz M.tea after

Franz 5 pm 5 pm 5 PFOTS Meeting Josef 6 Fox 11 am 11 am Glacier 7 Haast 5 pm 8 South Westland Catholic Parish: Contact Fr. Michael Mahoney, 0210333746 or 037534140 9 Note: This mass is the normal parish schedule. It is wise to check that a mass has not been changed for some special reason. 10 Anglican 3rd 10th 20th 24th 11 Quiz Night Franz Ross Hari Hari 1 pm 9.30 am 12 13 Whataroa 14 Fox INC Meeting Franz 3 pm Josef 15 Jacobs 16 River 5 pm Haast 17

Anglican Contact: Rev’d Vivien Harber (03) 755 5125 18 Quiz Night Franz SUPPORT, HELP, ADVICE? South Westland Area Practice 19 West Coast contact numbers are: Providing Healthcare from Hari Hari to Westland Victim Support 0800 VICTIM or 0800 842 846 Haast 20 HHCAss Meeting Arthritis Foundation (03) 768 7254 For all appointments please call 21 Cancer Society (03) 768 9557 or 0800 794 325 84 and speak to one of our Chch office 0800 226 237 Health Care team 22 Women’s Refuge (9am – 3pm) (03) 7898025 AH 8.30–17.00 hrs Monday to Friday 0800 208 339 23 Child Support Agency – queries re child support 0800 221 221 For URGENT after hours care please call 24 0800 SW Health / 0800 794 325 84 Disability Information Service 0800 100 946 25 Quiz Night Franz West Coast Rural Support— Your call will always be answered, please Dianne Milne 0800 787 254 stay on the line! 26 Lifeline – West Coast Toll Free 0800 353 353 27 Kidsline – 4pm – 6pm every school day Please remember to order your repeat 0800 543 754 prescriptions in plenty of time to avoid 28 AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) (03) 7520200 any delay in receiving your medication. Poison helpline 0800 POISON 0800 764766 Payment is expected on the day of your 29 HEALTHLINE – FREE 24 HR HEALTH ADVICE visit. 30 0800 611 116 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL 111 30 22