Doctors Point, , Evansdale, Warrington, Seacliff 1 May 2010 Waitati School to lose bus service by Tania Turei and Nathan Clarke Waitati School is to lose its local school bus service The distances for eligible students from their at the end of this term. The service has been driven homes to the school are: for many years by Averil and Mike Thomson. It has • 3.2km for students under 10 years of age been reviewed in a routine two-yearly survey by • 4.8km for students 10 years of age or over School Support Invercargill. Can you help? Waitati is a vibrant, family-oriented community • Do you have any children aged 4 who may where children are the centre of many activities, be starting school within the next six months and as such we consider it is important to maintain or so? and develop the educational opportunities for our • Are you moving into the area and have children by encouraging attendance at the local children not yet enrolled at Waitati School? school rather than urban schools. • Are you considering changing schools to A regular and reliable bus service is a factor Waitati School? in maintaining safe transport to rural schools, and • Do you know of any new families moving into therefore we ask that parents who have children the area within the next six months? at primary school or intending to go to primary • Have we missed out your eligible child? school and who live within the Waitati catchment If so please contact Waitati School on 482 2888. consider Waitati School as an option for education. The school board and many parents believe that it is important to keep the bus service on Mt Cargill Rd and Waitati Valley Rd, where there are no footpaths, and high speed limits. Many parents do not believe it is safe for primary school students to walk or cycle on these roads. Families particularly affected by the proposed changes include one-car families and families with parents who do not drive. To maintain our valuable bus service we need eight eligible students who must be enrolled at Waitati School). At the moment we have five. School Support will continue the bus service if we can show that there will be more children requiring librarian Louise Booth was just one the bus within the next couple of terms. of around 100 local residents who turned out The bus serves Doctors Point Rd to Michies for the Anzac Day service at Waitati. Wreathes were laid by representatives of the district’s Crossing, part of Mount Cargill Rd, State Highway service clubs, including the Blueskin Bay Garden 1 to the and Waitati Valley Road. Club and Warrington School. The wreath-laying These routes can sometimes be altered for eligible ceremony was followed by a service in the children. Waitati Hall. Photo by Lynnaire Johnston May 2010 Blueskin News 1 NEws STOP PRESS Godwit update Anzac Day medal lost by Derek Onley and Peter Schweigman by the editors 1BWRY, the adult male bar-tailed godwit in the At the Anzac Day service, Arthur Templeton lost STOP PRESS in the March Blueskin News was a miniature medal. It fell from his lapel at some banded at Warrington on 28 February 2006. stage during the day. If anyone finds it, please treat After banding, 1BWRY (that’s white flag on it with the respect and value it is worth, and return left tibia, blue over white bands on left tarsus, red it to him or phone Helen Beamish on 482 1440 to over yellow right for the uninitiated) was first arrange a pick up. re-sighted at on 18 Sept 2006. As it was an adult, it probably went to Alaska but appears to have returned rather early, most birds returning a Blueskin News advertising week or two later at the end of September. It was Consider advertising locally. Contact us to book seen 16 times at Aramoana during 2006, 2007 and advertising in 2010. Our rates are: 2008. The first sighting back at the banding site • business card (up to 1/8 of A5 page): $15 at Warrington Beach was not until 1 March 2007 • up to quarter A5 page: $25 and it was back at Aramoana the next day. Maybe • up to half A5 page: $35 it had bad memories of the place. It was not seen • up to full A5 page: $60 at all in 2009. • Double A5 page spread: $100 After a year’s absence, or in hiding, it was Discount or waiver of the above fees may be spotted at Aramoana again on 11 Feb 2010, a available for non-commercial community month or so before its last sighting in events. Blueskin News is “free” but we welcome at Karitane on the afternoon of 9 March just before koha/donations accepted at Blueskin Bay setting out across the Pacific. Nine days later it was Library, by cheque to Blueskin Media, PO Box at Yalu Jiang on the China-North Korea border at 154 Warrington, or to account Blueskin News the head of the Yellow Sea; after a week or two’s 03 1726 0010157 00. stop over it headed north-east across the North Blueskin Media is a not-for-profit, 100% Pacific to Alaska. volunteer- run community publisher. Four more godwits banded at Warrington were Deadline: 22nd of the month, January to seen in the Yellow Sea in late March this year and November. yet another had arrived there by 12 April. Blueskin News Published not-for-profit by volunteers of Blueskin Media on the 1st of each month, February to December, 600 copies distributed around Seacliff, Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati and Doctors’ Point. Additional copies available at Blueskin General Store, Blueskin Bay Community Library and Warrington Post Office Boxes. Blueskin News is “free” but we welcome koha/donations accepted at Blueskin Bay Library, by cheque to Blueskin Media, PO Box 154 Warrington, or to Blueskin News 03 1726 0010157 00. We publish anything about this area, or anything written by someone from this area; and all ranges of opinion which are expressed in a respectful way. All unattributed opinion shall be attributed to Blueskin Media. All material sent to and/or published by us is “copyleft” and may be freely copied, re-edited and re-published. Content is pooled with the blueskin.co.nz website and other local media. Content offered for publication under the above principles is welcome; please email by the 22nd of each month to [email protected]. Electronic copy should be formatted as simply as possible with two returns between each paragraph or item in a list, and after each heading. Produced and distributed this month with the help of: Craig Marshall, Louise Booth, Lynnaire Johnston, Peter Dowden, Polly Higham, Kelvin & Bev Lyon Milk Vendors, Blueskin General Store, Gallery on Blueskin, the Contributors and Advertisers. Printed by North East Computing, Hampden. 2 Blueskin News May 2010 NEws Hopeful outlook for new hall and library complex by Geraldine Tait A resolution at the Waikouaiti Community with but I’m hoping he will see an opportunity to Board meeting on April 14, requested the architect design a fabulous new foyer which will provide to investigate the feasibility and cost of building a combined entrance into the new library on the the new Blueskin Bay Library at the south end of left and the hall on the right. If this new plan costs the Waitati Hall. This is a very positive move as more money I’m sure many of us in the Blueskin it was supported by a petition presented to the Bay community will get in behind a fundraising Community Board from 80 local people who are drive so that we can have a better positioned library concerned about knocking down a perfectly good and a great new little meeting space at the other building which could have multiple uses (Toy end of the hall. Library, Youth Group space, meeting room for The Council is contributing $500,000 to the groups like the Garden Club, Weggies etc). new library building but another $350,000 has The proposed plan to build the new library to be raised locally through funding applications at the north end of the Hall would also have an or other means. I‚Äôm sure we can follow the adverse effect on the children’s playground, which example of the committee behind the Waikouaiti is already surrounded by trees on three sides and Events Centre and access the necessary funds to would be completely blocked in by the library. We make this a multi-purpose community hub which can’t be sure what the architect will come back will meet the needs of our area well into the future. review Bohemian Nights by Lynnaire Johnston A small but enthusiastic crowd made it along to the Warrington Hall for the third visit by international folk performers, Bohemian Nights. Duo Ernie Gruner (right) on the violin and mandolin, and accordionist Phil Carroll provided lively, foot-stomping European and gypsy-inspired tunes, tangos and movie scores. Many members of the audience were obvious fans, having seen the group on previous visits, while others took the opportunity to show their appreciation by dancing in the aisles – or more correctly, the back of the hall. The concert was organised in association with • Photo: Lynnaire Johnston Blueskin Bay FM.

everything printed here appears on our website as it arrives, in full colour, with clickable links and in searchable form

May 2010 Blueskin News 3 COMMUNITY BOARD Speed Limit Review: Good news for north coast area by Alasdair Morrison The DCC Transportation Operations Department the speed limit will reduce from 100kph to 80kph has completed its review of speed limits on a to the intersection with Mount Cargill Road. number of roads throughout the city. The objective Coast Road of the review was to recommend the most Leaving State Highway 1 at Evansdale, the appropriate speed limit for the individual roads, speed limit remains at 80kph until just past the or sections of road. first railway level crossing (after the Park Road Summary for roads in the north coast area intersection). The speed limit will remain at The recommendation is that the current 100kph 70kph through the built-up area until you go past limits on Mount Cargill Road, Blueskin Road and the railway level crossing beside Reservoir Road. Coast Road should be reduced to 80 kph. There Continuing north round the bend, the speed are a few areas where it is recommended that limit will reduce from 100kph to 80kph. This will the 50kph road signs should be moved a short continue until the approach to Seacliff where the distance along a road to match up with obvious speed limit will further reduce to 70kph. The limit built-up development, such as driveways, post will go back to 80kph once clear of Seacliff and boxes, trimmed hedges, etc. Details are as follows: will remain at that until the present 50kph area at Mount Cargill Road the entrance to Karitane. The limit will go back to Heading north from the city, past the Normanby 80kph once clear of Karitane and will remain at pub and out of the 50kph area, the speed limit that until the intersection with State Highway 1. will reduce from 100kph to 80kph until the 50kph 50kph signs road sign above Waitati School. The 50kph limit Entering Karitane from the north, the 50kph sign remains along Harvey Street to the intersection will move about 150 metres along the road towards with State Highway1. the village. Blueskin Road Entering Warrington from the south along Leaving and out of the 50kph area, Park Road, the 50kph sign will move along the road to the start of the built-up area. The recommendations were endorsed by the Waikouaiti Coast Community Board on 14 April. The recommendations will go to Council and public consultation will take place during July and August. Final approvals are likely to be in late September and road sign alterations could start happening in October. Our thanks go to Bruce Conaghan, DCC senior traffic engineer, for all his work on this review. • Alasdair Morrison, chairman, Waikouaiti Coast Community Board, 482 2505

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

4 Blueskin News May 2010 Waitati Toy Library Welcome to all families by Frances Baeumer What is a Toy Library? following Monday nights at 6:30–7:30pm. The It is a place: dates for this month are May 8, 10, 22 and 24. • where well designed, safe and educational Closed on Queen’s Birthday Monday. toys can be borrowed on a regular basis at • Waitati Toy Library: Frances Baeumer 482 1991 minimal cost. • where there is access to a large range of quality toys. • with the opportunity to interact with other families. • which provides a chance to use toys that match the stages of a child’s development. The Waitati Toy Library is open to everyone. There are six month ($15) and 12 month ($30) memberships available that allow you to borrow toys at a cost of 50c to $2 per toy. We are continually working to provide the most up-to-date and high quality toys at our library. Our current toy buyer has just purchased new toys that include a range of Fisher Price TRIO construction sets as well as Tolo Safari and Farm sets. Our toys cover the age ranges from birth to nine years. Come check out the new toys and revisit some old favourites. The Toy Library is a member-run organisation with support from the national body. Active participation in the organisation not only sustains the service for the community but fosters a sense of community among its members. Toy Library sessions are fortnightly at the Waitati Hall on Saturdays at 10–11am and the Warrington School Clearing Sale acknowledgements Hammer Hardware (Eastern) Hawksbury Motors Ltd Health 2000 Otago Here It Is Isbister Crib Karitane Crib Kyak Karitane Liz Abbott Lone Star Metro Real Estate Mike Christie Auto Painters Monarach Wildlife Tours New World Olivia Home Otago Daily Times Polished Hair & Beauty Pumpkin Patch R&R Sport Rialto Seriously Twisted Southern Clams Taieri Gorge Railway Total Food Equipment Toy World University Bookshop University of Otago Aquarium VideoTech Warehouse Stationery Warrington School would like to thank the sponsors for their kind generosity and amazing donations for our school fair, held in conjunction with the Blueskin Bay Country Fair and Clearing Sale on March 20. Please support these businesses! May 2010 Blueskin News 5 Blueskin News needs your help by Lynnaire Johnston, co-editor Blueskin News We know Blueskin News is well-read, highly has an important role in our community, and we regarded, and even eagerly anticipated. We know wouldn’t want to be without it. this because whenever it’s a little late or isn’t We are very fortunate in that a lot of people delivered where it should, you let us know! in the community recognise the importance of Many of us organise our lives around the Blueskin News and submit articles, opinion pieces events happening in our community and Blueskin and general information. Without them, there News is vital for alerting us to what’s coming up would be no Blueskin News, so we are very grateful in the next month, when the library is open, what for their continued input. movies are on, and where to drop off donations But we need help. Inevitably, people’s lives for local fundraisers. It also gives everyone an change. They move on or they find themselves opportunity to air their views on matters that affect unable to donate the time they once did to ensuring us, like the planned library upgrade. Blueskin News is one of the best community As a newcomer to this community, I feel papers in the country. And that’s where we are at qualified to say Blueskin Bay is remarkable. Not present. We are about to farewell our treasurer, only is there a lot happening at a social / club Polly Higham, our longest-serving member who level, but there’s a real groundswell of interest in deserves a medal and is moving on; our designer such varied ideas as sustainability, better transport, needs to share the load, and we are looking for power generation, local food, and looking after more people who are interested in seeing that what our environment. In short, we’re keen on our little happens in the local community gets into print. corner of the planet and we want to do our best to If you have any interest in ensuring Blueskin make it better place! News continues to serve the needs of our Blueskin News has a role in this but we need community, we would like to hear from you. We your help. We run a tight ship with just a few are holding our AGM on Monday, March 10, from volunteers – someone to edit the articles as they 7.30–8.30pm at Gallery on Blueskin, Waitati. Like come in and put them on our blog, someone to all our meetings, this will be short, friendly and write a weekly radio news bulletin for Puketapu open to the public. All readers and members of our Radio, someone to handle the administration community are eligible to attend, air their views and accounts, someone to design and lay out and vote. This is your chance to influence and the paper each month, someone to deal with the help the future direction of your local community accounts, and someone (nominally given the title newsletter. We would love to see you there. of president) to make sure all this happens on • Blueskin Media: editors@blueskin. time, every time. We are all volunteers who put co.nz, www.blueskin.co.nz, 482 1364r our time in because we believe Blueskin News

Quince season is here! A new range of delectable chutneys, sauces and jellies showcasing new season’s produce is now on sale at T he V ill age Pot age r

Open daily, corner Doctors Pt Rd & Foyle St, Waitati Also at the Coast Rd Market, Seacliff Phone 482 1364

Local food for local people

6 Blueskin News May 2010 BLUESKIN GARDEN CLUB by Lyn Hastie On a beautiful autumn day last month members We then had a look at the Settler’s Museum enjoyed a wander around the Chinese Gardens. followed by a short get together to finalise our Most of us hadn’t been there before and were AGM plans which are as follows: impressed by formations, but wondered • When: Thursday May13 how the garden will handle the growth of some of • Time: 6.30pm the large trees planted within it in upcoming years. • Where: Warrington Surf Life Saving Club Meeting Room • What to bring? Pot Luck meal and BYO, plus a wine glass • Dress: The theme is “garden”. Let your mind wander and please come along in something relating to this theme. PresidentLyne Carlisle and secretary Lyn Hastie will be stepping down from their positions as they feel it’s time for some new blood to take over. New volunteers for the committee will be most welcome. • Blueskin Garden Club: Lyn Hastie, 482 2896 The BLUESKIN Bayleaf Fruit and Lamb kebabs by Rowan Holt This recipe for kebabs I came up with when I lived 2 cups boiling water in Greenlanes, a Kurdish and Lebanese suburb in 1 T butter North London. Food, energy and delicious smells Sit in a covered bowl for 10 minutes. are always swirling around the high street and Add a quarter-cup parsley, chiffonnade cut, juice people standing around eating and drinking at all of 1 lemon and 1 T lemon zest. hours of the day and night. Eating and food is really Harissa the stuff of life. This for a long time has been my 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped favourite barbecue plate because it is fun to share 1 medium red chilli, seeds removed, chopped with friends and family. Perfect with a cabernet (optional). Note: some people, especially sauvignon or fresh orange juice. children, do not like chilli. Fruit and Lamb kebabs with 2 t cumin seeds Lemon Couscous and Harissa 2 t coriander seeds Soak bamboo skewers in cold water Large pinch of brown sugar, salt and black Boil kettle for couscous pepper. Kebabs Heat 2 T oil in pan. Heat above ingredients 22 Lamb cubes quickly in pan - 1 minute. 8 Figs Add 1 can tomato puree. Heat through for 1 min. 8 Dried apricots Squeeze of lemon juice. 8 Cherry tomatoes Serving 16 Courgette chunks Serve a mound of couscous in the centre of the Marinade plate. 4 T barbecue sauce and 4 T oil mixed together. Arrange 2 kebabs on top and drizzle a little Arrange kebabs, brush with marinade. Place under harissa on top and around the plate. grill for 10 minutes, turning over after 5 minutes. Chop half a cup brazil nuts. Sprinkle over dish. Couscous Wedge of lemon to garnish. 1 cup couscous (small grain) May 2010 Blueskin News 7 Orokonui Ecosanctuary by Sue Hensley out early to mid May. It’s worth a visit just for the smell but bring a hand lens and enjoy a look into the complex arrangement of an orchid flower. There are some interesting lichens too to check out on the way to the orchid site. Twenty five robins/toutouwai were The visitor centre and cafe are open every day released over a three day period in early April. They between 9.30am and 4.30pm. The Centre is free to have proven very difficult to find but thanks to explore as is the Pa Harakeke walk (flax plantation) eagle-eyed walkers who not only saw but recorded and the 9km perimeter track. We have a Facebook the colour bands, we know at least some have page as well as a website - www.orokonui.org. found their new home to their liking. nz - to keep you up to date. Dr Ian Jamieson will be talking about the • Orokonui Ecosanctuary, sue. [email protected] robin and saddleback translocations on May 2. Another talk with a bird theme will be given on May 5 by ornithologist Derek Onley who will explain the data from the first five years of bird Colin Hall Fencing Contractor counts in Orokonui. Both talks will be at 2pm at Specializing in Lifestyle Blocks the Visitor centre, $5 entry fee. All proceeds go to Tel: 03 482 2110 Cell: 027 326 4678 the protection of robins and saddlebacks. Ill health has delayed the upgrade of the Valley E Mail: [email protected] track and a mid to end May public opening date New Fences & Old Fence Repairs is now envisaged, which will be before gravelling Restoration Maintenance & More work is completed. Thanks to the Rotary Club of for their financial and hands-on contribution to this long and challenging project. Some of you may have enjoyed the exquisite perfume of the Easter orchid. Flowering has been  very late this year in Orokonui so should still be  Hare Krishna presentation by Harvey Woolgar  Popular travelling Hare Krishna teacher Sripad  BV Tridandi Maharaja will hold a programme  at the Waitati Hall on  Thursday May 6 at 6pm.  Everyone is welcome  to hear him speak on “The sweetness of the  Absolute Reality”. The  presentation will be  followed by a discussion and feast. Entrance by  koha.  • Harvey Woolgar: 021 1168 620 

8 Blueskin News May 2010 May 2010 Blueskin News 9 10 Blueskin News May 2010 Blueskin Bay FM opening feast 7pm Warrington School. Pot luck, all welcome

Mega skips: Saturday 29th & Warrington Domain, Sunday 30th May 10am-5pm on

May 2010 Blueskin News 11 WAITATI SCHOOL by Jenna Packer professional development in literacy, it looks like there will be some hunkering down with good books, descriptive words and creative ideas in those cosy classrooms. And look out for some of The days are definitely getting shorter! People will children’s work on climate change and Blueskin be stoking up their woodburners and cranking up 10:10 elsewhere in this month’s Blueskin News their heat-pumps. Sustainable energy is the enquiry thanks to the WEP and Meiling! topic for this term, which seems appropriate given We hope all Blueskin families enjoyed the the amount of it we need to keep warm down here! beautiful Easter weather and had a good break. The new heat pumps at school have been described One of our lovely teachers had to extend her trip as – just like those furnace things in the engine in Ireland: Jayne Fitzgerald was held hostage by the room of that steamship – (the Earnslaw) which I’d volcanic chaos affecting Europe and was unable to take to be a glowing endorsement of the classroom get home for the start of term. comfort levels this autumn. An engineer will soon It is great to see such strong interest and be visiting to talk about wind and solar energy, so many nominations for the Board of Trustee and the children will be working with solar kits. elections. We really feel at the heart of a vibrant, The children all came back this term with their engaged community and look forward to the own energy levels topped up, ready to tackle a busy energy (again!) and enthusiasm new trustees will scholastic term. Last term’s enquiry topic of ‘New bring to the school as it grows and changes. Zealand’ led into the work the children have been doing on the Anzacs - Rooms 2 and 3 worked on poppy wreaths and drafted ‘telegrams home’ as nurses or soldiers from the trenches. ‘In Flanders Fields’ was the inspiration for Blueskin Bay Library Room 1 which completed some stunning static Hours images and delved into life in the trenches. It was Monday: 2.00 pm – 7.00 pm pretty horrible seeing your friends die around Tuesday: 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm you was one astute reflection. By May there will Wednesday: 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm have been various visitors to the school and visits Thursday: 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm by the school to both the museum (looking at Friday: 10.00 am – 12.00 pm Maori hunting and gathering methods and our 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm NZ heritage) and the Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Saturday: 10.00 am – 1.00 pm And with Jayne and Munirah continuing their

BLUESKIN CAFE at Blueskin Nurseries Come and meet Belinda and her team. Taste the delicious home baking and enjoy the best coffee in town. Open 7 days from 8.30am - 5pm Ph 03 482 2633

12 Blueskin News May 2010 Waitati Energy Project by Scott Willis Community Turbine update committee room, Waitati Hall. This is a meeting for Whew! Our big report to the Energy Efficiency the WEP, but anyone interested in the community and Conservation Authority (EECA) is finally turbine is invited. A proposed agenda has gone out complete! My verbal report on what we‚Äôve on the WEP e-list, but it includes the community discovered will be on the agenda at the next WEP turbine. meeting (see below) but a key finding is that, upon Energy information - word of mouth or securing a suitable site out of our shortlist with online? Most of us make decisions about what 7.6 m/s wind, we could make a community wind to do next, what to buy or how to install it or turbine financially viable: generating electricity innovate from friends, neighbours and mates. The and income for the Blueskin community from Waitati Energy Project in the Blueskin Resilient Purakaunui to Seacliff. That,s the simple story, Communities Trust office has also built up a and the complex one involves a joint development body of work and knowledge useful for specific partnership we own one turbine in a small cluster household energy issues and we often know where of approximately three turbines), settling on to direct people if we can’t answer. (The Internet is the community ownership form (co-operative for social networking sites isn’t?) company or limited liability company), and of However, the Energy Efficiency and course, raising the money. Conservation Authority which has supported

This is a significant step towards establishing a us in various ways (and most recently with our community turbine. There is a strong potential to community turbine feasibility study) has been ensure a good return on community investment busy sexing-up its website recently. They really (potentially around 10%) that can be returned as want people to visit, and now the site is much more both a household and a community good. The next accessible and helpful, it is worth a look. Perhaps stage will begin with community consultation. the best hook is a competition organised to get Then we would need to form the necessary people along. So, come on Blueskin Bay, I want partnerships, confirm a site and establish the someone here to win a Honda Civic Hybrid, or at formal community legal structure. We’ll need least a solar hot water system! Go to: http://www. further funding for project development of energywise.govt.nz/competition to enter. course, and once the earlier elements are in place There’s also plenty of information on the we can begin raising community capital for the website http://transitiontowns.org.nz/waitati or turbine purchase and start the resource consent by joining the WEP email list. application. This is a $1.5 million project. • Waitati Energy Project (Blueskin Power): WEP meeting The next WEP meeting is Scott Willis project manager, waitatienergy@ booked for Wednesday the May 5 at 8pm, in the gmail.com, www.transitiontowns.org. nz/waitati, 482 2048, 0274 888 314 May 2010 Blueskin News 13 Waitati Edible Gardeners Community Garden Year 2 by Rosemary Penwarden Last year’s crop was a success. How do we measure success? Not by an increase in GDP! Our wellbeing index has reached double digits and, judging by the smiles and community atmosphere at the last Waitati harvest market, we don’t have to worry about futures trading distorting our bottom line. Last September we planted garlic on half of last year’s potato patch area. It was easy; all that the roof. Lynley used to grow garlic in Ashburton hay, seaweed and pine needles had morphed into and was a good source of allium wisdom, Jacky’s beautiful rich humus. The garlic was courtesy competitive nature got the better of her when she of Dennis and Tracey (Double Hill Rd), Maia noticed the pool table, and Dave kept bringing out (Seacliff) and Andy Barratt (Karitane). Dennis wine. Still, we ended up with over 500 good-sized has been experimenting with garlic for some years garlic bulbs. Some were sold at the recent harvest and selected beautiful fat cloves, ideally suited to market and we are each going to save our best- the Double Hill climate. (No, we don’t need GE! looking cloves for sowing next season. We laid seaweed between the rows to discourage After the garlic we decided to try a green-crop weeds, but still needed to weed three times over and sowed a mixture of lupin, oats, mustard and the growing period. One of our aims is to keep vetch. It hasn’t grown well in the dry weather, but the digging to a minimum, and we also want to then again neither have the weeds. keep to crops that don’t need much attention and The first lot of this year’s potatoes were that we don’t have room for in our own gardens. harvested in early April. Results are variable, with In October we put in more potatoes beside last not as many big ones and unfortunately more year’s patch. We tried different varieties this year wire worm than last year. Before the compulsory and used more pine needles to try to combat wire cup-of-tea/beer/refreshments, the potatoes were worm. We put newspaper between the rows and streamed: upper class (not a single blemish), upper piled on more hay, seaweed and pine needles as the middle class (one or 2 spots), lower middle/lower shoots began to emerge. Everything got a healthy class (eat first) and untouchable (for the pigs). The dose of coffee grounds thanks to the staff of Fluid remaining potatoes will be harvested in the very Espresso. On the other half of last year’s patch we near future and we’ll take note of which ones have tried onions and pumpkins. Most of the onions grown the best to use again. were grown as seedlings in Jan’s green house. We have been offered funding by the Blueskin Derek’s seedlings were a bit smaller and most got Resilient Communities Trust to put a duck-proof trampled by the neighbour’s ducks. Then it got fence around our community garden. We have cold. The onions didn’t do much and the pumpkins also been offered some land at Waititi Bush for did nothing. It wasn’t until February’s belated developing, which is some of the most fertile soil in summer heat arrived that they finally started to the country, so we don’t quite know where we will swell. They have now reached an acceptable size be next year. The new site is close to the beautiful and I am looking forward to pumpkin soup and Waitati Bush, so bush and garden could be tended pumpkin pies this winter. together. But it is certainly colder than Lynley and As an afterthought we tossed some leeks and Frank’s top paddock. brassicas into the last bit of last year’s patch; the If you are interested in joining in we’d love leeks look ok but the brassicas have got a bit lost to hear from you. Our garden just happened. in the hay and don’t appreciate the dry autumn. In There was an idea and a bit of land, and plenty of February we harvested the garlic, took it to Jan and enthusiasm to keep out of the supermarket and Dave’s garage and spent a few evenings tidying it eat fresh local veggies instead. There has been up and hanging it to dry through a gate strung to absolutely no addition to GDP. • Rosemary and Derek, 482 2831 14 Blueskin News May 2010 WEGies report by Lynnaire Johnston As Rosemary has reported, the final harvest market for the year was a great success. In fact, all three have been well supported by both buyers and sellers – and even the odd barterer. The traditional apple press provided fabulous freshly squeezed juice and the WEGie coffers benefited accordingly. Our thanks to Mark and Rayna Dickson for continuing to offer such a great venue for the market. The big news on the WEGie front is a grant secured from the Lotteries Commission by the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust for WEGie projects (thanks hugely to Scott Willis and the team). A total of $8000 will be spent on the Waitati Open Orchards (WOO) project, the community garden, and WEGie work with local schools. The WOO project aims to plant fruit trees and herbs in public areas around the village so they can be accessed by members of the community. Grant money will be used to purchase trees for three community areas: Waitati School, beside Waitati River and on roadside grass verges. There are also plans to run four workshops facilitated by Jason Ross of Sutherland Nurseries, covering planting and pruning. Funds will be used to fence the community garden to keep out ducks and other intruders. Hay is also required so if you have some to sell we would be pleased to hear from you. The third part of the funding will go to assisting the three local schools - Waitati, Warrington and Purakanui - with their gardening projects over the next 12 months. • Lynnaire Johnston, 482 1364

May 2010 Blueskin News 15 opinion Wind Turbines for Waitati? Thoughts from a visit to Horseshoe Bend by Rosemary Penwarden In the 1990s, when Max Bradford split up the like everyone else. But a certain proportion of the cooperative energy companies, we were given a profits goes back to the community. There are chance to keep our electricity shares or to sell them. restrictions on what sort of things get funded, Many in Waitati voted not to sell, but we were they have to be things that the whole community outnumbered by the majority who liked the idea has access to, for example swimming pools in each of “free” money – and maybe they believed Max town and Dunstan Hospital have been recipients. Bradford’s assertion that splitting and privatising Apart from this, the Board or community have no the power companies would mean cheaper power. say in how Pioneer Generation run its company or I wonder how many times over we have paid for what commercial decisions it makes. this decision. (That was Rogernomics Phase One. Pioneer Generation has other hydro electric Now we are in Rogernomics Phase Two but that’s power stations in Central Otago and Southland. another story.) It also has an agreement to freehold land from In Central they did it differently. The the crown, under the Crown Pastoral Lands Act, community voted to keep the generation side in the Nevis Valley for a hydro electric power of their cooperative power company and named scheme on the Nevis. This Act was set up to protect it Pioneer Generation Ltd. Pioneer Generation high value and environmentally sensitive areas, is built on the infrastructure of the old Central but in this case it is the lower valley that some Electric Ltd, and before that in cooperation with believe is the more sensitive area, having greater gold mining companies as far back as the early biodiversity – rare fish species (smeagol galaxias), 1900s. Some of us from Blueskin Bay went with skinks and plants – as well as being more culturally Scott Willis recently to visit Pioneer Generation’s valuable. It hosts a remarkably intact historic new wind turbines at Horseshoe Bend, beside goldfield site and provides outstanding kayaking the Teviot River, with the idea of looking at the opportunities. Its proximity to Queenstown possibility of having something similar in or near makes it valuable for nature-based tourism and Waitati. It was an opportunity to see how a “small” an obvious site for a cycleway connection between locally-owned energy company worked. the Central Otago Rail Trail and new trails planned The Teviot River starts at Lake Onslow and for Southland. These things are all threatened if empties into the Clutha. Pioneer Generation have Pioneer Generation take over ownership and flood five small hydro stations along it, and the three the valley. While there are covenants intended to wind turbines feed directly into the newest of protect important values in perpetuity, in reality these; they sit just above it. They are at 600 metres they offer little or no protection. The rare fish, above sea level and I can confirm it was very windy skinks and plants are not mentioned in them, nor up there the day we visited. Our local equivalent is the public’s right of access. The lower valley has heights are Moponui at 460m, Mihiwaka at 560m been calculated to be worth less than the upper and the top of Mt Cargill at 670m. A sixth hydro area that the crown wants to retain, so we get to pay station is being constructed on the only stretch of Pioneer $3 million for the privilege of damming the Teviot that has room left. the Nevis. Pioneer Generation is community owned The visit to Horsheshoe Bend was great. (by the Central Lakes Trust) and has a Board of Pioneer Generation’s CEO was very generous Trustees elected by the Central Otago community. with his time and information. The small scale of The Board employs the CEO and staff, which has its hydro stations on the Teviot River and the way grown in number since 1993 from eight to 18. The it linked up to the three wind turbines seemed Central Otago community doesn’t get cheaper sensible, practical and efficiently run. It seemed power; the electricity generated goes into the a sound decision to build the sixth station on the grid and they buy their power from the retailers Teviot.

16 Blueskin News May 2010 Blueskin 10:10 by Mei Ling Blueskin 10:10 met the great kids of Room 1 and When you are out of the room turn off the lights their teacher, Sue Roberts-Blyth, at Waitati School and also switch off your TV. When you brush your recently. Sue writes: “Room 1 at Waitati School was teeth don’t leave the water running. Don’t even lucky enough to have a visit and presentation from watch TV; go outside and play or climb a tree. Scott Willis of the Waitati Energy Project. Scott Shaianne Andrews talked about what is causing climate change and An Acrostic Poem what is happening to our Earth as a result of human Care for animals impact. Afterwards the children decided to write Herbicides are bad about ways in which we could make a difference Atmosphere to our world and our futures.” No TV The two examples from students below show Go out side and play their breadth of thinking. Not only are they Eat outside focusing on simple actions they can do themselves, but also the “big ideas” like alternative energy Turn lights off and transport systems, areas that will need the Hybrid cars involvement of our brightest minds for generations Earth hour to come. An extra special thanks to Shaianne and Rhythm for sharing their ideas, to Scott for Wind power providing inspiration, and to Sue for organising Operate a wind turbine everything. Read with a torch A Child’s Perspective on Climate Change Light candles What we can do about it Dynamo torch We can have oil free days, which are walking/ Rhythm Moana biking days. We can also have public transport days • Blueskin 10:10 ameilingb@ as well. You can get solar in your TV and radio. yahoo.com, 482 2289

However, I came away from the trip with many expense of other things, like the flooding of a reservations about wind turbines in Waitati. Firstly, highly sensitive valley. This does not sit well with Central Otago is not like Waitati. We don’t have a my idea of a community that is responding to the Teviot. Our landscape is nothing like the barren “challenge of climate change, resource depletion unpopulated hills above Roxburgh. We have and an economy based on growth by building people everywhere, not merino sheep, who value local resilience (environmentally, economically their views and landscape. We have an ecosantuary and socially) and by living within our local means” with kaka and saddleback, and an as yet uncertain (Transition Town aims). Neither do I like the idea wind source. of community control somehow being handed to Second, we don’t have any infrastructure in a CEO or company, as is the case with Pioneer place, while Pioneer has close to 100 years of Generation. electricity generation behind it. If we were to At the same time, I love the idea of our generate our own electricity by wind or any other community being energy self-sufficient. I like means, it would be from scratch. Wind turbines the way a certain amount of Pioneer Generation’s and the infrastructure to erect and maintain them profit goes back to the Central Otago community. would require a large amount of money. I far prefer its small scale system to the corporate Third: the community owned-commercial monstrosities that now dominate our national model. I have reservations about creating or electricity structure (thanks Max Bradford). But forming a partnership with a company that runs I don’t think what I saw at Horseshoe Bend is the on a commercial model. Commercial model right thing for Waitati. decisions maximise profit and growth at the

May 2010 Blueskin News 17 WAITATI VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE by Deanne Burrell Members of the brigade enjoyed another great • Don’t store objects on top of your heater day out at the recent A & P Show. Kids were able • Never cover heater to enjoy a ride on “Little Flick” and kids and • Don’t overload clothes dryers and clean the adults alike got to experience what it was like to lint filter after each load. be in a smoke-filled environment. The public also Fireplace and chimneys enjoyed a live demonstration of what to do if they There’s nothing like sitting in front of the fireplace have an oven fire. Flint and Amber, the ‘Fire Wise on a cold winter night. But here’s a list of things Crew’, also enjoyed meeting and getting photos to be mindful of: taken with the children. On Sunday April 18 the • Clean chimneys and flues before your first fire brigade held an Open Day at the Fire Station. It of the season was great to meet members of the community who • Always use a fireguard or spark-guard with took the opportunity to have a look around. We open fires would like to say thank you to the Dunedin Fire • Ashes can take up to five days to cool - always Brigade Restoration Society which lent us their empty fireplace or woodburner ashes and travelling museum and it was great to have back ashtrays into a metal bin with a lid. Water can on-station #20 a 1947 Ford V8, which was the be poured over them before disposal. second serving fire engine in our community. We Electric blankets would like to welcome to our brigade three new Climbing into bed on a cold night is much easier members, Sharon Brogan, Amanda Church and if you’ve had an electric blanket on but there are William Shaw. Thank you for volunteering to help things you should do to keep fire safe. your community. • If your electric blanket or cord is showing any It is with regret that we announce the signs of wear, have it checked by a competent resignation of Brett Fairweather. We would like to service person or have it replaced. Don’t take thank Brett for all his hard work and dedication to the risk. the brigade and we wish him well for the future. We • Always make sure that your electric blanket is would like to congratulate the following members switched off before getting into bed. who have recently successfully completed practical • Never use pins or sharp objects to secure the training courses. Richard Templeton - Officer’s electric blanket to the bed and never tuck it Course; Brent Bell, Keith Templeton, Charles in under the bed. Abraham and myself - Qualified Fire Fighter’s • If the blanket becomes soiled, sponge it lightly Course; Richard Templeton, Brent Bell and Keith and allow to dry naturally on a flat surface. Templeton - Driver’s course. Portable LPG gas heaters On April 21 the total fire ban for the north When using gas heaters take a few moments to and south coast zones was lifted. A restricted fire consider the following safety precautions - they season (allowing fires by permit only) is now in may save a life. force. Permits suspended by the ban and which • Make sure the ceramic heater element is not have not yet expired are once again valid. broken or chipped and that the element guard Winter fire safety tips is in place Daylight saving has ended and it’s time to get your • Check to see that the hose is in good condition winter coat, electric blanket and heater out of the and doesn’t show any signs of damage or wear cupboard. Here are a few safety tips to take into • If the heater does not light straight away, turn consideration this winter. it off and then try again. Don’t let the gas build • After kitchen fires, fires involving heating and up before trying to relight it. drying are one of the most common reasons • Always have fresh air coming into the room the Fire Service is called out. where a gas heater is in use • Always keep furniture, curtains, clothes and Keep warm and keep safe this winter. children at least one metre away from heaters • Waitati Volunteer Fire Brigade: Deanne and fireplaces Burrell 482 2230, [email protected] 18 Blueskin News May 2010 Waitati Film Society by Leonie Rousselot All welcome to join us at the Film Society, corner Tuesday June 1 of Orokonui and Mt. Cargill Roads on Tuesdays COMRADES IN DREAMS at 8.00pm. Membership for one year is $60 and (Germany 2006) covers 29 nights of entertainment. We offer drama, Four lives that could not be comedy, history or just plain entertainment in more different and a single a warm, pleasant environment with convivial passion that unites them: the company. Conta Brigitte 482 2829 or Leonie 482 unconditional love for their 2508 or visit: www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/waitati. cinemas, somewhere at the end htm of the world. From North Korea to Wyoming, India Tuesday May 11 to Burkina Faso, we follow their efforts to make AFTER THE FALL (Germany 1999) their audiences dream every night. The film dives This documentary explores the aftermath of into a set of fascinating lives where stories from the fall of the Berlin Wall and the almost total the everyday and from the silver screen frequently disappearance of its once 160 kilometres long merge into something magical. 100min structure that surrounded West Berlin. Since then, some 50,000 new buildings have been erected in the capital. But the common tenor of different people is that the wall and its traces were eradicated too quickly, with the intention of clearing away the past as soon as possible. 85min Tuesday May 25 McLAREN DAZZLERS (Canada) 11 short films by N McLaren, see April 27. 75min

May 2010 Blueskin News 19 FREE* Classifieds YOUR AD HERE [email protected] for CARPENTRY WORK: Mark Horsefield available classified ads in this column. for all building, carpentry, gib stopping, building *Classified ads are “free” but we would plan work. Ph 03 482 2515 or 0210 537 701 [05] appreciate a koha/donation of $0.50-$1.00 per ROLLER SKATING: Join Dunedin city roller line of text: at Blueskin Bay Library, by cheque derby league; girls only. emailskateghoul@gmail. to Blueskin Media, PO Box 154 Warrington, or com to account Blueskin News 03 1726 0010157 ROLLER SKATES WANTED: Old school 00. Blueskin Media is a not-for-profit, 100% rollerskates wanted urgently! adult sizes. Please volunteer-run community publisher. phone Mandy Mayhem 482 2752. NOTE TO ADVERTISERS: Ads run her for three months. We are happy to repeat them if requested by advertisers. WAITATI HALL Large modern kitchen facility. Meeting room, an attractive facility for a variety of functions. For more information or to hire this venue phone Blueskin Bay Library 482 2444 WARRINGTON HALL: For all bookings: please phone Rowena Park 482 2667 MILK VENDOR: Kelvin Lyon for all your milk, cream, flavoured milk, custard and fruit juice. Phone 482 2698 LOCAL SHOP: Blueskin General Store, State Hwy 1, Waitati: 7.30am-8.30pm Mon-Sat; 9am-8pm Sun. Tel 482 2741 REBIRTHING, SPIRITUAL COACH: David Baillie, ND, BSc. Waitati Valley and Dowling St. 0211-22-0910 www.gemstonetherapy.info [06] PHOTOCOPYING for only 8 cents: St Barnabas Church now has a photocopier and we are offering a photocopy service for 8 cents a page. Contact Louise at the Blueskin Bay Library on 482 2444 if would like to take advantage of this service. [05] HOUSE TO RENT: Lovely House in Waitati, 4 bdrm, from June. $300 per week. 0272941770 Dates and rent are negotiable. [07] HOUSE MINDER: Into my 4th year around Blueskin Bay. Mild-mannered paleontologist, non smoking, will look after your pets and plants. Available from Sept-Dec 2010. jeffreyhrobinson@ yahoo.co.nz 027-4467-915. [08]

20 Blueskin News May 2010