APRIL / MAY 2019 Bi Monthly Community Newsletter covering Piopio, Aria and Mahoenui Districts Native birds fly at Piopio Playcentre This term Piopio Playcentre received our own hand painted wall mural. Designed and painted by Caitlin Wilkinson (one of our Playcentre mums) the inside mural shows native, local birds thriving in their environment. We wanted the mural to capture the sense of belonging to the Piopio community, so we decided together on a bird theme to represent our town. Belonging is an important part of the Te Whariki strands, which the children’s learning is centred around, so it is im- portant to us that, just like the birds, the playcentre families feel they are part of our community. The mural allows the children to observe how our beautiful New Zealand birds live in their environment. Seeing the mural is like watching them in the bush, from the way the tui is hanging upside down drink- ing nectar from a kowhai flower, to the kiwi in its burrow. We are so lucky to have such a talented artist as part of our team. Caitlin donated so much of her time and talent to create this wonderful mural for us all to enjoy. Piopio Playcentre Playcentre kids Billie Jones, Vivian Carter and Lennox MacKenzie standing in front of the new mural Award-winning Carter family LOVE NZ After the terror feature in Mindfood attack that occurred Carter Family features in Mindfood in Christchurch this For those magazine readers out there: Mindfood March, we wanted recently came to Piopio, and has just published a to reflect on our story on John, Judy, Shaun and Kate Carter. values as a The feel-good family and community story was community, and initiated by Silver Fern Farms, who nominated the think about the family after they became regional Silver Fern Farms things which hold Plate to Pasture award winners in 2018. us together. The Carters found their Silver Fern Farm awards We asked local experience invaluable. As well as receiving farm budding artist business analysis they gained important additional Chloe Darke (6) insight into understanding their consumer demands. from Aria, to draw A big thank you to Silver Fern Farms who what she loves best generously donated $500 each to the Piopio about living in Swimming Club and the Piopio Community Pools Aotearoa. This is Trust as part of the Carters’ Mindfood experience. what she created. Check out April’s birthday edition of Mindfood, Thank you Chloe! page 101 for the Carter story. WWW.PIOPIO.NET.NZ PIOPIO HALL HOUSIE Piopio ANZAC All equipment An enthusiastic Commemoration is now to be group meet to play booked and Thursday 25th April 2019 paid for Housie.o Parade 11am. through the r Citize Waitomo District Council. 1.00pm each Mairoa Linedancers will hold their Please assemble at 10.45am on • Bond 50% of hire fee annual social at the Piopio Memorial Hall Moa Street outside the St Johns’ • Full Day hire 8am-5pm Thursday rooms. Current service men/ $204.00 At the Senior on Saturday 4th May. Attendees are women (all services) in uniform • Rental per hour (max 4 hours) expected from all over the North Island would be much appreciated. $36.00 Citizen’s Room Service medals may be worn by for a day of music and dance. Public most • Audio Equipment - Hire Fee relatives. All those who wish to $66.00 per day You are welcome welcome to pop in. participate are urged to do so. • Hireage of facililites: to join us for fun, The service will follow outside • Table $10 per table laughter and the Memorial Hall, weather per- • Chairs $2 per chair mitting. All organisations, indi- • Wine flutes/glasses 50c per serious viduals and family groups are glass involvement in welcome to participate in the • Tumblers 50c per glass trying to be the Waitanguru Branch wreath laying ceremony. • Place settings $2 per setting includes (dinner, side and winner!! Rural Women NZ After the ceremony, everybody is dessert plate, mug, cutlery) welcome to the Memorial Hall • Availability 8am-12 We are again co-ordinating the for light refreshments. Finger midnight, capacity approx. SENIOR Piopio ANZAC commemoration food contributions are most wel- 200 people CITIZENS this year on behalf of the commu- come. WAITOMO DISTRICT nity and planning is already un- Community input is most wel- come. Please give Jenny Brodie COUNCIL We have a meeting on derway. (877 8033) or Susie Verry (021 BOOKINGS TO: 07 878 0800 If you would like to be involved 0588339) a call if you would like the first Tuesday of in any way please get in touch. any further information PIOPIO MARKETS every month at 10 am. Waitanguru Branch meets month- ALL SAINTS CHURCH ly on the 2nd Tuesday and we wel- Every 3rd Sunday of each Following this, a cuppa and DVD or a come all new or prospective Co-operating Parish of Piopio, month members. If interested in joining Aria and Mokau. guest speaker is us, or wish to contact us re AN- planned. ZAC Phone Susie Verry Main Road, Piopio FOR HIRE (President) 027 555 0400, Sheryl Worship service 10am All senior citizens Whitehead (Secretary) 027 517 every Sunday Meeting Rooms available at are most welcome to 6655 or Jenny Brodie 877 8033 Piopio College (07) 8778173 attend. Reverend Jekheli Singh 8788026 We have had some MAINLY MUSIC Within our district Thursdays @ 10am interesting ideas for several defibrillators Piopio Garden Circle visits once the weather are on hand in the All Saints Church improves so if you are event of an Moa Street , Piopio Visits are now the 3rd Music and movement for interested. emergency. Wednesday of every month. children 0-5yrs and their Piopio Township: Owls caregivers. Wendy Weinberg [email protected] 8778686 Nest and Piopio College. www.crimestoppers-nz.org Allison 877 8840 In the surrounding districts: Mahoenui - Coleman’s woolshed, Aria Cosmopolitan Club, and Waitanguru Hall also have these on hand. A free App is available on google Playstore to locate machines throughout New Zealand. Page 2 Replica bus project near complete Chairman John Carter. Without the outstanding support of over 250 local and ex residents, businesses and Trusts, the vision to The Latest Surplus recognise Piopio’s special place in The Piopio Community Fruit & Veg the history of rural education provi- Stand has been the grateful recipient of sion and school transport would nev- surplus grown in our local gardens and er have occurred. We are particularly orchards over the summer. Lately it’s grateful for the financial support of been tomatoes, zucchini/courgettes, the Ministry of Education, The Wai- kamo kamo, beetroot, peaches, apples, tomo District Council, Trust Waika- nashi and pears. Turnover in the stand After a journey of some four years to, the Sargood Bequest, Threeway continues to be amazing: contributions the Piopio College Trust’s project to Motors, The Piopio and Districts come in and they fly off to good homes rebuild and display Trust and Ford NZ. on the same day. It’s been great to see a replica of New Zealand’s first The provision of a lease by the Pio- kids walking from school in the after- noon grabbing an apple, nashi or peach school bus is almost complete. pio Aria Mokau Cooperating Parish from the stand to munch on the way The recent provision of a building to site the garage on their Moa home. consent to build a display garage on Street property, Max Laver’s faithful the vacant Moa Street site between reconstruction of Arapae and the Bags of freshly dug new potatoes were the Mustard Seed Opportunity Shop sponsorship of TotalSpan, Allied in demand in January. Can I suggest that more people try to grow potatoes? and the Memorial Hall will see con- Concrete, NZ Steel, Graymont Lime, Put them in the ground or a growing struction under way next month. Progress Transport and Aaron bag next Labour Weekend: they’re Completion is scheduled for late Bevege towards the cost of construc- easy as. And if you grow too many you May and an official opening will tion, have been other significant can always share them at the Stand. th occur on Friday 14 June. contributions to this project. We discovered damsons thanks to a “Reaching this final stage has been John Carter, Piopio College Trust generous contributor from Mapiu immensely satisfying,” said Board Fund Chairman. 078778290 (okay, maybe I did). After which Ber- nadette Murphy, the first person to an- swer three damson questions correctly New look for St.Mary’s Church on the stand’s Facebook page, won a copy of Lynda Hallinan’s new book, “Damson: From Hedgerow to Har- vest.” If you are a fan of damsons and haven’t seen this book it can be or- dered from Lynda at https:// foggydalefarm.co.nz/. While the Hawke’s Bay is considered the epicen- ter of all things damson in NZ, there’s no doubt Piopio can change that over time! With autumn upon us we’ll con- tinue to see heaps of different varieties of apples and pears in the stand fol- lowed by figs, feijoas and walnuts. Maybe also persimmons, quinces, crabapples and chestnuts? We would appreciate your continued support with contributions of non-perishable tinned foods, bottling, jams, baked goods and citrus fruit through the dark days of winter. Anything homemade needs to Photo: Sacha Capeling See www.stmaryschurch.co.nz for more information. be dated and labeled for food safety, as do fresh eggs. I try to let people know Local Jo Collins has opened St. semi-rural setting. The space is cosy what’s on offer daily, and when contri- Mary’s Church on Kea St as boutique and comfortable with plenty of room, butions are needed, via the public Pio- pio Community Fruit & Veg Stand B&B accommodation.