BLUESKIN NEWS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER Est. 1985 FEBRUARY 2021 Seacliff • Warrington • Evansdale • Waitati • Doctors Point • Purakaunui
In this issue... Waiputai Hub page 3 Dealing with life page 11 The Opera House Trust page 4 Waitati mural page 14 Ferrets and stoats page 8 Waitangi 2021 page 16 Breaking News page 10 plus lots more ... Editor’s Note Hi everyone, Happy New Year. I hope you all enjoyed a good Christmas break – though the weather was maybe not as cooperative as it could have been. As we all know, summer doesn’t really start until the schools reopen! We held the Blueskin News AGM last night. Our finances are looking good (thanks to our advertisers and donations that we received last year). Janet Rhodes has stepped down as our Chairperson due to a move away. We’d like to thank her for all her hard work and great support. Good luck for the future Janet, you’ll be missed. Mandy Mayhem- Memorial Service Bullock has taken on the role of Chairperson with Craig Marshall as Secretary, Mark and Clare Brown as Treasurers for Chuck Landis and myself as Editor. We are well supported by Ian, Giselle, A Memorial Service to celebrate Chuck’s life will Worik and Ainslie. We would, however, invite anyone be held in the Waitati Hall on Saturday 13 February interested to join our merry band - it’s not an onerous at 2.30pm. task, we meet once a month to discuss how we can All friends and colleagues of Chuck and his family are improve the BSN, what subjects we would like to see welcome to attend. included that would be of interest to the wider community and to go over the content of the next month’s issue. Just email [email protected] if you think you can spare a couple of hours a month to be part of this great local venture. Blueskin Bay Community Spaces Let’s hope that this year is not as difficult as 2020. Warrington Hall Avoiding lockdown is a goal we all need to aspire to – so Available for birthdays, family gatherings, exercise keep using the contact tracing app everywhere you go. classes, dances and do’s etc at reasonable rates. Hire includes a fully equipped kitchen and tables Enjoy this month’s read, keep safe and well – Bernie and chairs. Contact Lyn 482 2896 or Rowena 482 2667 Cover image: Nick Beckwith - white fronted tern. Waitati Hall Suitable for large meetings, weddings, parties, concerts, dances etc. (up to 120) features kitchen, toilets, stage, sound system and large projection screen. Contact Blueskin Nurseries on 482 2828 Waitati Hall Meeting Room Suitable for committee meetings, small gatherings, demonstrations etc. (up to 20 people) features kitchen and toilets. Contact Blueskin Nurseries on 482 2828 Blueskin Bay Library Meeting Room Suitable for committee meetings, presentations, training, interviews etc. (up to 12 people) features modular tables, large projection screen, kitchenette and toilets. Contact Blueskin Bay Library 482 2444 | [email protected] Waiputai Hub Warm and cosy meeting space, community gatherings, classes, children’s parties, and workshops for up to 20 people. Features include small kitchen, comfy couches, tables and chairs, fenced grounds including playground for under 5s and toilets. Available to hire for workshops, courses, children’s parties or family events etc. at a reasonable hourly rate. Booking enquiries to [email protected] or Nancy 482 1198 Hire charge is usually applicable, details can be obtained on request
2 | February 2021 Waiputai Hub Supporting a healthy, strong, inclusive, connected and sustainable Blueskin Community.
Both Kinds of Music Announcing the opening of a repurposed Touted as a classic, The Blues Brothers movie was embroidered with one-liner gold. Along with the stand- community space in the heart of Warrington, out, “we like both kinds of music – country and western”, serving the immediate and wider Blueskin Bay there were nuggets such as, “what’s the chicken-wire (Waiputai) area. for?”, and then the premise laden, “we’re on a mission With the sad closure of the Warrington Playcentre a from God”. Well, this past week, I witnessed both kinds of conversation was started as to how to keep the building music and they were neither country nor western. active for our community. The not for profit Waiputai First, I was at The Pioneer Hall in Port Chalmers, that Trust was formed and the lease of the building through quaint suburb over the hill from Waitati which, let’s be the DCC as a Community Hub was secured. honest, would be far more charming without the port. The Hub offers a warm, friendly space for community (Logs anyone?) Pumping out tunes were three bands groups, by gold coin donation from participants. whose members, aged 15-16, were celebrating the end of the school year with typical youthful exuberance, and the It is available to hire for workshops, courses, children’s word which immediately sprang to mind was punk. The parties or family events etc at a reasonable hourly rate. sound, the look, the attitude. The audience, the low-fi It can also be hired in conjunction with the hall offering tech, the po-going. All of it – punk. It was 1978 again and extra space for larger events. I loved it. I couldn’t decipher many of the lyrics but this Maybe you have been thinking of a group you’d like to was punk so angry protest would seem assured. host but didn’t have a venue? Fast forward a few days and I’m at the Waitati Community Maybe you need a space to give classes to small groups? Hall for the local Playcentre’s annual fund-raiser dance. That’s right, a dance. Not a dance party. Competently We would love to hear from you with a proposal or pumping out cover tunes by the likes of Pink Floyd and booking. Enquiries by email to [email protected] The Rolling Stones was a band of merry men in their Starting in February mid 70’s. OMG it was 1978 again, again. I understand The Tuesday Coffee Mornings 9.30–11.30am open coffee Rolling Stones may not have reprised much lyrical anger mornings. Open to all, coffee and company,. gold coin or protest, but their lives and relationships with 1970’s society certainly did. And Pink Floyd’s concept album The donation. Dark Side of The Moon, dissected a repressive 70’s society Thursday Lunch Group 12-1.30pm – For people working and is an album which holds a special place in music’s remotely from home. Hot drinks and companionship. chronology of protest and anger. Bring your own lunch. Gold coin donation. So – music makers from 15 to 75 years old, while Coming soon seemingly at opposite ends of the musical spectrum, Darts Club – Details to be confirmed. Open to all to, learn displayed far more in common than was immediately and hone your skills in company. Date and time to be apparent. And no doubt both ends of this spectrum are confirmed. convinced that they, just like The Blues Brothers’ Jake and Ellroy, are on a mission from God. Art Classes – watch this space. Doug Nuttall Nancy Higgins February 2021 | 3 The Opera House Trust The Opera House Trust has been a home and We have been talking to housing agencies and will talk refuge for heaps of people over the last 20 years, to more to find good partners for this project who are many still here in Waitati and Dunedin. It was committed to social housing in Waitati. formed in 1998 as a private charitable trust from We have to clear the DIY structures. We have been a very generous donation of land from Gary quoted $35,000 for that work and it will likely be more, Pearson and included the Opera House itself especially if there are hazardous materials in any of the built by Bruce Sheppard. The trust is tasked dangerous structures. The front section needs a lot of with supporting low income people and families work to clear and restore and we need to make Lake with healthy food and accommodation, and to Beatrice safe if families are to use that area. We need to completely redo the drainage, sewerage and electricity promote native regeneration. The trust owns infrastructure on the property if we are to put any three sections on Doctors Point Rroad, two are modern housing units or even just park tiny homes on residential and one is coastal, facing the estuary. it. Then we still have to sort the building and resource We are governed by our trust deed and because consents if we want to have low income rentals and work we are a private trust we don’t have AGM’s as with partners to manage the costs. That is really positive some groups do. for the future but will take a lot of work to get there. For most of the past 20 years the trust has provided So we are tackling this one step at a time. accommodation at the Opera House, the White House We have given our current tenants four months notice and in the DIY structures built by Glen Monaghan (Jack to May 2021. That is incredibly hard for them, we know, Black). The trust has had a long and sometimes difficult and they have been great tenants over the years. The history but the trust aims have always been the driving two houses are degrading faster than we can repair purpose of the current and previous trustees. The current them and they have to be retired this year. We expect trustees Chris Robinson and Metiria Turei (co-chairs), to have secured the first lot of clean up funding and Tania Turei, Sue Stephenson and Tric Robertson are found housing partners to work with by May hence the 4 conscious of this long history and the potential of the months notice. land. We are volunteer trustees, we all live in Waitati and we are working to deliver to Waitati what the trust deed We have applied for grants to cover the cost of the front asks of us. section clean up and to remove the DIY structures and we expect to hear from the funders soon. We have been As we have in the past, we have made decisions that not told that by improving the public access and clearing the everyone in Waitati will agree with. The Opera House section we may be able to get more financial help for the and the White House are very close to the end of their drainage and sewerage. We also need to assess the Opera safe and useful life as residential homes. Whenever House building and how we might use it as a community there are new (and necessary) upgrades in rental resource. We have had one engineer go through it and housing standards, these two buildings get further and identify some problems but we need to understand more further behind. We have rented these two properties at very low rates for many years so while we have met the about its structural stability. basic costs we have not been able to grow a surplus for We know that this is a shitty time for our tenants to be significant repairs. given notice and have to look for a new house. We are We have been looking at our options to figure out how pleased that the Waitati community is supporting them we best meet the trust aims now and in the future. We to find a new place to live. We also know that we cannot want to keep the front section with Lake Beatrice and allow this land to go underutilised when we could be the public art for public access and events. We want it using it to house even more families in good quality low to be used by our community. We also want to improve cost rental homes. None of this makes the hard decisions the back section’s social housing capacity so more low easier to live with but they are the reasons for them. If income people and families have safe homes to rent in you want to talk to us about this, feel free to email us at Waitati. We have talked to the council and we can have [email protected] or call Metiria or Tania. at least four small homes on the two residential sections. The Opera House Trust
4 | February 2021 THE
by Ian Melvin This is an opinion piece designed to promote feedback. If you feel you’d like to respond – email [email protected]
What Makes Me Sad, Mad and Glad... by Hilary Rowley Watching the world turn to custard Horseradish with a mixture of awe, disbelief and sadness. In the midst of which One sniff of fresh horseradish and your sinuses go for a quick trip folk who put their own selfish to Arizona. I love the challenge and excitement of eating this zingy wants determinedly ahead of the root vegetable. collective needs of those around I had horseradish growing at Seacliff years ago, but because of the extreme them. Promoting craziness that and difficult conditions in that garden (high winds, solid clay soil, huge parties, invasive cows) I lost my plant. When I decided to plant some in our adds fuel to the fire. At the same Waitati garden, I went to the Otago Farmers Market for a replacement and time I am totally aware of those the stallholder refused to believe I had “lost” my plant, in fact she was quite out there continually battling away scathing. Now, retrospectively, I can understand why. This stuff really grows in the struggle to deal with the well- it likes a nice deep patch of loam, which is also the best place for ease of growing chaos and tragedy, putting harvesting the roots. themselves at risk day in and day I decided to shift my plant recently as it was taking over my handy, deep soil, out mostly without complaint. herb garden and I can see now that it has no wish to give this position up- every Not sure about others but I find little bit of root sprouts. I have left some of my excess plants potted up outside the community free food pantry at the Blueskin Library. There are plenty more myself sobered, and reassessing my plants where those came from if anyone would like some. own place in the world. All my issues To harvest, dig up a root, scrub and scrape it well, then mince or blend it until now seem so small and petty and I smooth. Mix fresh horseradish with crème fraiche or cream cheese, salt and find I’m very grateful for much that a wee splash of vinegar for a sublime meat accompaniment It is possible to I have been guilty of taking pretty store minced horseradish in a jar covered in white vinegar in the fridge, then much for granted. Glad to see the you can simply take out what you need. success of leadership coming to ’Japanese’ horseradish is usually made with English horseradish mixed with the fore that offers new hope and mustard, vinegar and food colouring, so if you are a sushi enthusiast, or just possible solutions in the future. love the blast of wasabi try making some of this. Real Japanese wasabi is a “Give light and the darkness shall different plant altogether, but is quite expensive to grow as it is a bit fussy and is grown in gravel with fresh water running through it, so this easy to grow disappear of itself.” Desiderius alternative is worth a try. Erasmus
Blueskin General Store (Waitati On The Spot) Store Hours Mon – Sat 7.30am – 7pm Sunday 9am – 7pm Ph 482 2741
February 2021 | 5 Waitati Toastmasters Club Six Week Speechcraft Course – 17 February to 24 March Gain confidence and improve your Our members and partners last met at the communication and public speaking skills Waitati Hall in early December. Fifty three of us with Waitati Toastmasters Club’s Six-week were welcomed by our Waitati club members Speechcraft course. and a fun and festive evening was enjoyed by us This will be a hands-on practical course presented by all. We were served a delicious meal with all the experienced Toastmasters. Over the six weeks you will trimmings - ham, chicken, salads etc and to finish learn and practise the fundamentals of drafting and some Christmas desserts. delivering a short talk and impromptu speaking. By the end of this course you will have some basic tools to Each year we get together and club members have turns to become a more confident and effective speaker. be the hosts depending on where they live. Our members come from Warrington,Evansdale, Waitati, Mount Cargill, After the course you will have the opportunity to continue Long Beach and Dunedin. This year we are intending to your learning with Toastmasters by attending the Waitati spend a day at Quarantine Island as well as visiting the Toastmaster club meetings as a member (subscription fees Food Forest Garden in Dunedin. We are also hoping to be apply). Whether your goal is to gain confidence, present an part of the Blueskin On Show Day in April where we display idea to a group, or to step up to your next career challenge, our garden’s autumn harvest of fruit, vegetables and Toastmasters could be for you. blooms. Unfortunatel, last year the show was cancelled as The course will be run at the Blueskin Bay Library, 7pm well as our Spring Flower Show, due to Covid. to 8.30pm Wednesdays, 17 February to 24 March. Online Let’s hope this year allows us all to get together again attendance also welcome. Limited places. Cost $60 paid the way we have done over the years with our activities. prior to commencement. After all the December and early January rain our gardens To reserve your place on the course email are taking off with lots of veges ready to eat or put into [email protected] pickles etc - sure saves having to hose so regularly. We More information about Toastmasters at won’t mention the weeds though!! www.Toastmasters.org or contact the club president Happy gardening to you all, at the above email address. Lyn Hastie, Publicity Jane Gregory
RURAL SKIP DAYS Warrington Beach Carpark | 20 and 21 February | 10am– 5pm These are cash only collections. (Waste must not be left at the site outside these times) NO LARGE ITEMS: i.e. engines, metals, tanks, metal drums, whiteware, demolition materials*, or large items of vegetation** NO UNACCEPTABLE WASTE: i.e. hazardous waste, animal remedies, herbicides, medicines, medical waste, gas bottles, wire, asbestos or petrol tanks NO LIQUIDS: i.e. liquids including oil * demolition materials – the maximum size of demolition material is 1m in any direction. Material is to be clean and contain no asbestos. ** vegetation – no complete hedgerows or similar. Fees apply. See website for details.
03 477 4000 www.dunedin.govt.nz
6 | February 2021 BLUESKIN BAY LIBRARY 28 Harvey Street, Waitati, 9085 • Ph 03 474-3690 www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz WHAT’S ON New The Home Energy Audit Toolkit is a first step Children’s Summer understanding how energy efficient your home is. Reading Programme Party Saturday 13 February, 11.30am - 12.30pm, City Library Pop in to the Library with your completed booklet for your invitation and certificate.
Children’s Book Club Tuesday 9 February, 3.30 - 4.30pm Tane Turoa (right) shows off his finished Christmas wreath made from old encyclopaedias. This month we’ll catch up on It comes with six tools and everyones summer reading. instructions all packed in a neat case Please note this Club is for available for checking out with your Year 3 and up. library card for a two-week loan. Games Galore Wunderkammer Every Thursday, 2 - 5pm Love Gaming? Why not try the old-fashioned way. The Library now has a second Come along and join in the fun of board games – cabinet to exhibit collections of new and old for all ages. extraordinary objects from the community. Pictured right is an Lego Club item from It’s a Small World by Vicky Patten Burrow. “Each one of Thursday 18 February - Saturday 20 February these models involves many We supply the Lego you bring your imagination. uncounted hours… making each Suitable for ages 5+. tiny item then bringing them all together to make the final piece Bookshare gives me the most enjoyment. Thursday 25 February, 3.30 - 4.30pm Join us for a chat over afternoon tea about what you read over the summer months. Waitati Beach Reserve Centenary Blueskin Bay Knitwits A comprehensive history of the Mondays, 6.30 - 8.30pm Waitati Beach Reserve by Jillian Tuesdays, 2.30 - 4.30pm Borrie has been added to the local All ages and experience levels are welcome. history collection and is available for reading at the library. Explore the Digital Library Please note, COVID-19 Alert Level changes impact n The Reed Gallery, located on the third floor of the City Library, fulfills AH Reed’s dream of a readily the Library hours if in doubt please check the available space for patrons to view heritage website. Library hours are normally: materials. Exhibitions change approximately every Monday & Tuesday: 2-6pm four months and are available to view online Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: https://www.reedgallery.co.nz/exhibitions 10am-12pm & 2-6pm Saturday: 10am-1pm
February 2021 | 7 Waikouaiti Coast Community Board Update Hello again, and Happy New Year to one and all. Last year was ‘The Year of The Lockdown’ – I wonder what 2021 has in store for us, apart from the DCC 10 Yyear Plan and a seemingly large rates increase? As a Community Board we are a bit grumpy about a few things just now. The poor state of tree and vegetation maintenance along our roads has still not been rectified properly; we still do not have the back-up firefighting tanks in Waitati and Warrington (the fire brigade could Ferrets and stoats have used one with the recent Warrington fire on the We just wanted to warn everyone, there is an spit); the council won’t agree to repairing the sea wall explosion of mustelids. walkway in Karitane; the state of the Enchanted Forest We live on the Kilmog and since the begining of the year at Truby King Reserve is appalling. We are addressing we have lost three chickens and 10 quail, all brutally this at a hearing later this month. killed by ferrets and stoats. We have many traps set and On a brighter note, the ‘Trains not Planes’ initiative from between 1 – 20 January we have caught seven ferrets and Dunedin Venues Management to run a weekly train two stoats. service to Waitati appears to be real success. It is to be hoped that those in charge of Dunedin Railways will We know there are many more as we have cameras see that there is a future for trains in the greater set, so please start trapping as we can’t stop them on Dunedin area. our own. Also on a brighter note, we still have some money to Allen and Glenda Nesbitt give away. The DCC financial year runs from 1 July Editor’s note – above is ferret, below a stoat to 30 June each year and our Discretionary Fund gets topped up by $10,000. To apply for a grant to support a community project, please feel free to either contact a board member or download the application form from the DCC website. Our next formal meeting will be held in the Blueskin Bay Library on Wednesday 17 February starting at 5.30pm. If you wish to speak at the public forum please contact Rebecca Murray on 477 4000. Alasdair Morrison, Chairman Waikouaiti Coast Community Board – [email protected] 027 4354 384
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8 | February 2021 Blueskin
Need help protecting habitat on your Playcentre Kia ora koutou! Ngā mihi o te tau hou! property? We may be able to help you! We have funding Blueskin Playcentre is starting 2021 feeling available for three years to fence and plant very grateful for the support of our wonderful waterways, wetlands and forest habitat in Coastal community, especially those who supported our Otago, with fencing to be completed in the first year. Christmas Fundraising Dance. It was a fabulous We are actively looking for landowners to work with, night and we raised $1075! We want to express in places where waterway and forest protection will our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who came have the biggest impact on improving freshwater and forest habitat values. along to party the night away for your generous With the area covering roughly 124,000ha from North support, as well as our incredible supporters in Dunedin to the Shag River Waihemo, we’ve brought the form of organizers, musicians, decorators, together all available data to help us determine areas raffle-prize donators, and helpers – a huge thank to target with fencing and planting. Now we need to you to you all! find those landowners to work with. Together we’ll If you are considering checking us out let us tell you a plan and deliver habitat restoration. bit about ourselves. Blueskin Playcentre is an inclusive, Our ‘Source to Sea’ fund may cover the full cost of community focused and quality early education centre. fencing and restoration planting at top priority sites. On other sites, we may require contributions (cash or Whānau from all backgrounds are welcomed and valued. in-kind) of between 20% and 70% of the cost of the We use te reo Māori as much as we can, seek to build on work. what we have, and encourage our tamariki to explore To register your interest, visit www.haloproject.org.nz/ Te Ao Māori with us. At Blueskin Playcentre we seek to register or call Jennifer Lawn on 021 651 939 connect tamariki and whānau to their community, to This project is supported by the Te Uru Ra¯kau One build friendships and social confidence that will last far Billion Trees Fund, Provincial Development Unit, beyond years spent at playcentre. Our tamariki learn DOC Community Fund and Otago Regional Council’s from each other, as do our parents. Our playcentre is a ECO Fund. safe place for parents and tamariki to grow together. We provide quality resources for use in learning through play, as well as quality excursions, giving children increased confidence in their abilities. We give our time in place of fees and value the diversity of input each member brings with them. We have sessions Mon, Tue and Wed, 9am – 12pm. Our first session for the year is Tuesday, 9February. Please find us on Facebook, at www.playcentre.org.nz/centre/ blueskin/, at [email protected], or on Halo Project works with landowner, Nikki Penno, to plant (03) 470 1228. We hope to see you soon! wetland. Credit: Halo Project. Aroha nui, Blueskin Playcentre
Halo’s New Coordinator We welcome our new Predator Free Project Coordinator - Sophie Bond. Sophie has taken over from Kate Tanner who now supports predator trapping communities for Predator Free Dunedin’s City Sanctuary. Sophie runs our community and backyard trapping programme, while Conor runs the stoat trapping programme. You can contact Sophie on 022 026 2115 or email [email protected] The Halo Project Team
February 2021 | 9 Warrington Surf Life Saving Club Lifeguards have provided voluntary patrols at Warrington Beach for beach goers this summer, with patrols of 8-10 teens on duty each weekend and paid regional guards providing safe swimming between the flags 11am – 7pm, every day of the school holidays. A huge thank you to these selfless teenagers who give their time voluntarily to help out in the community! Lifeguards also support the development of youngsters in cold water swimming and fitness. The Junior Surf programme is on Sunday mornings, 10-12 noon. Children are supported to swim safely in the ocean, with and without boards and to learn the skills of cold-water survival. Parents Lifeguard relaxing in a hot tub after a long patrol! are encouraged to join in and make this a family affair. A hot shower, sausage sizzle and cups of tea are waiting at the clubhouse for a lunchtime BBQ. All community members are welcome to come along and see what surf lifesaving is about and what this can offer their family. Sausages $1! Surf Life Saving competitions are commonly held at Warrington – the safest swimming beach in Dunedin. On 13 – 14 February hundreds of junior competitors from all over the South Island will compete in surf swimming, running relays and board paddling. Saturday mornings is the time when the rescue boats race – honing their skills for patient pick up by racing with other lifeguard clubs at Warrington Beach, 9-11am. It is hoped that locals can see that this is all in a good cause, despite some break to the peace of a Saturday morning beach walk! Any teenagers keen to train to be a lifeguard, or any families interested in joining Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club can email Tricia at [email protected] and find out more.In it for life!
BREAKING NEWS WARRINGTON FIRE BLOOMS AND ART FROM A NEW ARRIVAL To have sea lions and marine wildlife BLUESKIN BAY We would like to welcome and living close to humans is special. It Display of some of the beautiful introduce our wonderful little boy comes with responsibility and comes flowers and foliage grown around to the Blueskin community! Cedar with danger to the animals and to us Blueskin Bay with art from local Frederick Owen was born on the and our pets. artists. 5 January at home in Waitati at 11.50pm. He weighed 8lbs 6oz and The recent fire that raged through 27 – 28 February at The Old Church was 54cm long. Our midwife was the Warrington Spit was frightening at Blueskin Nurseries. Open from Margaret Gardener, and we would for residents and a killer for wildlife. 10am – 4.30pm both days. Free entry like to put out a huge thanks to Joy weathered her second fire on through Blueskin Nurseries shop. Margaret for the wonderful job Warrington spit while nurturing a Brought to you by Blueskin Garden that she does and for supporting us pup. The volunteers who attended Club. the fire and effectively and efficiently through a beautiful birth. Enquiries to Glenys 027 273 8749 controlled what was an ‘inferno’ are Thank you Margaret! true taonga of our community. The BLUESKIN SHOW Mike and Heather Owen coordinators knew Joy was there and The Blueskin Show will be on 11 April. plans were in place. Full details in March’s issue of the We are so so lucky to have our Blueskin News. volunteer rural fire service – with men and women who are part of our HARVEY STREET MERCHANT community and share our treasures Congratulations to Matt and Mel on giving up their energies to protect 1 February – the first anniversary us all. of the opening of a very successful venture.
10 | February 2021 Our Terns The Blueskin estuary is a food basket for multiple bird species over the summer. Many birds breed on riverbeds inland but migrate to Blueskin Bay for summer feeding. Some birds, such as the Torea, Variable Oyster catcher, and gulls breed here. Tara, White Fronted terns are one such bird and they breed on the cliffs above Doctors Point. The New Zealand population of Tara has reduced markedly over the last 40 years and is currently regarded as at risk/declining. Otago is host to three types of commonly seen terns – Caspian, Black Fronted and White Fronted. Only the White Fronted terns breed in our bay. Fledgling birds can soon be seen taking their first flights over the Doctor’s Point Beach – with mixed success! Many birds will tumble and unceremoniously end up crash landing on the beach below. At this point these young birds are vulnerable to disturbance by dogs not on leads. Keeping dogs on leads is the best way to help our local wildlife. Warrington residents are outstanding in their care of local identity Joy and her new born sealion pup – making visitors aware of the need to have dogs on leads. By modelling good practice – and reminding visitors of our obligations to wildlife, we can continue to enjoy the wonderful array of wildlife at our door step in Blueskin Bay. We are so lucky to live here.
Dealing with whatever life brings Our place doesn’t have a lot of water. We live in a tiny home and most of the water we collect comes from the roof of my 10m² studio. Hence, there is not a lot spare for the garden. This year however, it hasn’t mattered. There has been so much rain that everything is flourishing and our tanks are full. Of course, that means more lawn mowing, but I don’t mind. I am grateful. For many people, the year that has just been has been a year of having less, but appreciating it more. I know it hasn’t been easy for everyone, but for me the lesson has been this: slow down. By not rushing so much, taking the time to be more present, we can do what we need to do more effectively. And, at the same time realise that, actually, how we do something, is just as important as what we do. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to learn these lessons in daily life, but for me, one thing that has helped a great deal, is a daily meditation practice. This is because it is a way to teach myself to relax, to feel more connected, to appreciate everything more. Not only do I have a daily practice but I also love to teach it too. If this sounds like something you would like to try then why not come and join Sabine Margesin and I in one of our upcoming classes. For example: our guided healing meditation session, which is on the second Sunday of each month, at the Waitati Hall. You can find out more at www.shine-bright-centre.co.nz It’s the start of the year, and while we can’t be sure of what 2021 will be like, we can still make choices that will help us deal with whatever life brings! Jay Glubb February 2021 | 11 The Kiosk Our little kiosk, by the surf club at Warrington Beach, offers great surfing experiences with on- hand friendly and experienced surf instructors. With wetsuits, surf boards and body boards for hire, you can learn to surf or just have a fun Pão de Queijo session at one of the safest surf beaches in the Easy blender Brazilian Cheese Bread Dunedin area. This has become a firm favourite with our Friday night As well as surfing we offer great coffee, icecreams, drinking group – especially if served with smoked salmon dip. It takes all of half an hour to make and produces iceblocks and drinks for before or after that walk or surf mouthfuls of puffy, cheesy, crunchy, gooey delight. You on the beach. Sit and relax and catch up with friends and must use tapioca flour, ordinary flour won’t work. I use a let the children loose at the playground. mixture of parmesan and feta (which has been drained) The Kiosk operates weekends and some public holidays, instead of just parmesan. The mixture will keep in the but relies on good weather, so wish for a long hot summer! fridge for a couple of days, just whisk before pouring into the mini muffin tins. If you let them cool completely For surfing information phone 0800 484 141 anytime. they can be frozen singly on a tray and then put in freezer Geordie containers – though I’ve never had a chance to do this – they always disappear too quickly! Ingredients • 1 cup milk • 1/2 cup vegetable oil • 2 cups tapioca flour • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste • 2 eggs BLUESKIN BAY • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese ONLINE Instructions Preheat oven to 180ºC. BLUESKIN BAY ONLINE is a FREE searchable Combine all the ingredients in the jar of a blender and Local Business Directory developed to support pulse until smooth. Pour the batter into mini muffin tins, lightly greased or sprayed with cooking spray. Fill tins local businesses across Blueskin Bay. about 2/3 to 3/4 full. We aim to list as many local businesses, and Bake for 15-20 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. trades & services as we can find – to make it Let them cool slightly and serve warm. easier for you to find and support them too! Smoked Salmon Dip If you would like to advertise your business, email your details to: Ingredients [email protected] • 50g packet smoked salmon • 1 tub original Philadelphia Cream Cheese or complete the contact form at • Lemon juice and pepper to taste www.blueskinbayonline.co.nz Instructions Place salmon and cream cheese in food processor, blend It‘s as simple as that until smooth. Add lemon juice and pepper to taste. Store in fridge, will keep for 3-4 days. Let’s keep supporting our local businesses Bernie
12 | February 2021 Milestone at the Physio Pool by Judith Cowley
Stick arms and legs flailing at all angles emitting wordless howls, he is lowered into the pool by sling. His carer pats him in reassurance but at first contact with the comfort of warm water he becomes silent, though maybe that’s a smile on his twisting face. He circles in a rubber ring while my attention goes elsewhere.
Suddenly, all bodies in the pool turn towards him. He has discovered the echo chamber of the roof so if he pats his mouth and calls he can release the true roar of a trumpeting herd of elephants. Triumphant : The sound of the African savannah comes alive on an autumn afternoon in Dunedin
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February 2021 | 13 The Amazing Waitati Mural Artist Bruce Mahalski
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14 | February 2021 WAITATI BOOK CLUB by Ian Melvin The last meeting of the year, as is customary was pub nite, convened at the Careys Bay Pub. Good beer on tap and a table at the window overlooking the bay, great food platters. A very pleasant way to spend an evening. This was followed by our 20 years celebration of TWBC at a gathering of members, partners and special guests at Marc and Inga’s place. The weather relented allowing us to spend time outside in the garden, later gradually moving indoors to a well laid table to dine in style, with good food, and drinks plus an impressive selection of whiskeys and Port all provided by our members and partners. Thanks to our generous hosts for organising this at relatively short notice as our original venue fell through. Actually as it turned out this was the superior option. THE BOOK Ian – Love by Hanna Orstavick: The far north of Norway, mid winter, one cold evening going into the dead of night. A slow motion emotional train wreck of dysfunctional sadness and tragedy. Made me feel depressed and grumpy at the careless stupidity. Should be titled an absence of love. Others rated it , but I wasn’t alone in my summation. Other reading Marc – Homestead by Rosina Lippincott: A series of linked stories about women in a remote Austrian alpine village spanning the first three quarters of the 20th century. It is very poignant, the author showing a deep understanding and BEER WORD OF THE MONTH empathy of characters. Marc – Boundary Road Hazy Pale Ethnomusicology: as in Harry Scott – English Pastoral: an Ale. Sampled in the Wairarapa. Smith’s Anthology of American Inheritance by James Rebanks. Cheap flavoursome and thirst Folk Music. A Smithsonian A story of family, farming, global quenching. folkways recording. A gift from trends and values grounded in place Scott – Enjoying my home brewed my friend Rita, that I have been and people. Couldn’t put it down. wheat beer at the moment. saving until the time was right to investigate... “The Old Weird Farming Inside Invisible Worlds: Ian – Volfas Engelmans premium Modernist agriculture and its America” “The whole bizarre lager. Perfect summer cold beer package made the familiar strange, consequences by my good friend from Lithuania, when I can find it. Hugh Campbell. Not only has one the never known into the forgotten, of Jenna’s paintings on the cover, it MUSIC and the forgotten into a collective tells a story of farming in Aotearoa Whare Flat Festival, yes it did rain, memory that teased any single that has never been told. a lot, yes we left a day early as the listeners conscious mind.” Greig campervan sprung a leak, and if we Marcus. Seems a lot has changed, Martin – Two Brothers by Ben but at the same time very little? Elton: Twins born in Berlin in stayed longer we might not have the1920s, issues of loyalty, love, got out for a day or two. However, MEANING OF LIFE and conscience. A good historical it was still a great festival. A really “There are only two days of the year thriller. An easy summer read. impressive array of NZ talent. My that nothing can be done. One is pick was a local duo, “Tall Folk” a called yesterday and the other is Rise and Fall by Paul Strathern: duo we haven’t come across before. History of selected empires. called tomorrow. So today is the Jack originally from Midwest right day to love, believe, do, and Written in a sort of fireside US and Lara from Dunedin. dialogue, it draws on common mostly live” The Dalai Lama. From Sweet harmonies, twangy guitar, the famous eagle quote book 12th themes in an interesting way bluegrassy acoustic music. Try! Tall adding little known gems on the edition lent by my dentist and Folk – Poster (Live at Knox Church) friend John. way. Again easy reading. on YouTube. And yes they are tall!
February 2021 | 15 Waitangi 2021 Waitangi Day 2021 is nearly here and there is so much to do. You can bask in the sun and cheer at the incredible success of the long and hard fought YOUR win at Ihumātao by hundreds of whānau last year, maybe reflecting on the multitude of won and lost land struggles by tangata whenua over the last 181 years. STORY It’s a great time, in between beach swims and barbecue sausages at Doctors Point, to chat with your most racist friends about how not to be racist. (Tip: it’s SUPER easy, you just don’t be racist.) Maybe as you listen to the sweet sounds of Bob Marley’s Crazy Baldheads (happy birthday COULD Bob!) and indulge a little herbs at the Waitangi Day Reggae Special at Waitati Hall, you’ll reminisce about the land marches and Waitangi protests you have supported, argybargys with the cops and compare the décor and hospitality of various police cells. BE ON If you head into town to the DCC Waitangi Whānau day in the Octagon, you can chat with your fellow Dunedites lounging on the lovely grass about the Pakakohi and Parihaka prisoners on whose blood and sweat some of THIS Dunedin is built. And finally there is little more satisfying as the sun sets on Waitangi Day, to sit back and plan as tangata tiriti all the great things you will do this year to help to achieve PAGE the true self determining vision of Te Tiriti o Watangi The Blueskin News needs you. 1840. Have a fabulous Waitangi Day. Articles, photos, drawings, poems on any local subject welcome. Metiria
16 | February 2021 Summer Gardening Tips Happy new year and best wishes for another successful year in the garden. Gardening has definitely been discovered and 3. Spring bulbs – On a hot summer day it is hard to rediscovered by many as a wonderful hobby in 2020, think about the beauties of spring bulbs. Flowering bulbs during our extended time in our own backyard. Here brighten up the garden coming out of a cold winter. It is at Blueskin we have had another successful year with time to choose and plant your spring bulbs. Bulbs can helping our customers revitalise their backyards, grow be planted in pots. Use a good tub mix preferably one their own vegetables and have inspired them with new especially for bulbs. Shorter growing varieties are better gardening ideas. It has been really nice meeting so many so they don’t need staking. There are lots to choose from new gardeners, along with seeing all our very loyal, local Crocuses, Tulips, Frittilarias, Anemone, Reticulata iris, customers regularly. We feel very privileged to live in Bluebells, Narcissus (daffodils), leucojams (snowflakes), such a supportive community who without its support, muscari (grape hyacinths) and many more. this year would not have been possible. Thank you for your support it has been really appreciated. 1. Winter vegetables – Now is your last chance to get in your winter such as leeks, brussel sprouts, carrots, cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, silverbeet, kale and spinach seedlings in the garden. Add plenty of organic matter (manure and/or compost) before planting winter greens.
4. Catch the train to Waitati – We are very excited the Seasider Train is coming to Waitati every Sunday until the end of March. The train stops for two hours in Waitati – so there is time to explore Waitati, including Blueskin Nurseries, Harvey Street Merchant, Waitati Designz, Blueskin Gallery, Orokonui Eco-sanctuary and also Arc Brewing Co in Evansdale. ( Shuttles will be available from the village to other activities with additional charges). 2. Hydrangeas never disappoint in the garden or in a There is a carriage for transporting your bikes or taking vase fresh or dried. Do your hydrangeas wilt after just a home your purchases from the village, even trees! couple of days in water? Make sure the small centre buds For bookings visit Dunedin Railways of the flower are open to insure they will last in water. www.dunedinrailways.co.nz/ To help lengthen the vase life take fresh water into the 5. New website – We have been working hard over the garden to put stems in immediately when cut. Cut to the last year to update our website and moving online for desired length, then hold in boiling water for a minute shopping. Thank you to The Bold team in Dunedin and arrange in a vase of cold water. Or you can dry for our new website. They done a wonderful job so far these too! and there is more to come. We will move to an online shop in the next couple of months. We will keep you posted on this when it is ready to go, so you can shop for plants at your finger tips! Pop over and have a look. www.Blueskinnurseries.co.nz If you have any gardening questions or queries please email or call into see us. Blueskin Nurseries open 7 days from 8.30 – 5pm, Café 8.30 – 4.30pm 7 days ph. 03 482 2828 or [email protected]
Sally Brown
February 2021 | 17 18 | February 2021 CLASSIFIEDS
LILLIPUT LIBRARIES Monthly Healing Meditation 28 Brown Street, Waitati 14 February 4pm-5pm at Waitati Hall, Koha (also on Zoom) Coast Road and Watson Streets, Warrington Pilates for Back and Posture YOGA IN WARRINGTON • Mondays 11am-12pm, Karitane Hall Warrington Hall, Thursdays, 6.30 – 7.30pm, $10 • Thursday 11am-12pm, Waitati Hall contact: [email protected], www.haginoyoga.com • Thursday 1.30pm to 2.30pm, Zoom WARRINGTON HALL PINGPONG Casual $15, 10sessions $100 For all ages 12 and over on Tuesday nights 7 – 8 pm. A very Nordic Walking friendly and welcoming group for all levels. Wednesdays 9am-10.30am, Karitane Peninsula or other Free or Koha. Enquiries 022 647 4738. location. Casual $15, 10sessions $100 SHINE-BRIGHT-CENTRE CLASSES To book for any Shine-Bright-Centre classes please Yuan Qigong Classes contact [email protected] or call Sabine on • Wednesdays 2pm-4pm ‘Awaken your Heart’ class, 021 207 0664, www.shine-bright-centre.co.nz Koha (Zoom) BLUESKIN PLAYCENTRE If you are interested in learning Moving Qigong please let Open Mon, Tues, Wed from 9 –12 during term time. Come us know. If there is enough interest we would love to offer a and visit us! We are located at Waitati Primary School. beginner course.
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February 2021 | 19 YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AD SIZES PAGE LAYOUT COST We welcome and thank you for your contributions and invite A4 = 210 x 297 Full page advertisement $300 you to send your short articles of local interest, calendar A5 = 210 x 148 Half page advertisement $150 events, milestones, history, historic images, poems, recipes, A6 = 148 x 105 Quarter page advertisement $75 photos of local events, advertising; and anything else you wish A7 = 105 x 74 Business Card size $30 to share with your community. Where possible, please try to Classified Ad $5 (Free for under 18 or non-profit) limit articles to 250-300 words max, about half a page. Any opinions or views published in the Blueskin News are those of CONTACT US each contributor solely and not necessarily those of the Editor Editor Bernie Cornford or Blueskin News Committee. Email [email protected] Online version www.blueskinnews.org CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING To submit your classified ads, calendar entries & article All donations gratefully received. Bank a/c 03 1726 0010157 00 submissions for publication please send your text and any photos Please include a reference to indicate that it is a donation and to: [email protected] by the 15th of each month a name, if you want a receipt.
'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media: voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff, Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point, Purakaunui), Dunedin, New Zealand. All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished. If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin news". Printed by Digiart Design Limited
20 | February 2021