A Straw Bale Garden ~ Otaki, New Zealand

Your local community newspaper goes out to 4,600 households in Manakau, Otaki and Te Horo 30 October 2013
Tyre
recycling
Page: 5
Waitohu
School 50 yrs
Page: 13
Otaki River
Walk
Page: 7
Hamish's Glittering Path
Mens & Ladies Fashion Clothing
68MainStreet,OtakiVillage
by LLOYD CHAPMAN
Former Otaki Mayor Murray
Scott’s son is literally treading
the path established by his father.
Hamish Scott, 51 has patented a
world-first paving product that
glows in the dark. The prototype is
being trialled by Cambridge City
Council in England. If you google
‘Starpath’ you’ll be surprised the
media attention his company is
attracting. Their website contains a
video that explains the revolutionary
product.
Hamish Scott grew up in Otaki.
Rex Kerr remembers him as
‘playingforthe2ndXV’.Onleaving
Otaki College in 1979, he began an
engineering apprenticeship with
Southgate Engineering in Arthur
Street. He then joined his father’s
company, Matta Products. Hamish
was a born salesman, remembers
his mother. At the age of 29 Hamish
went to England, to sell his dad’s
innovative matting wares. Hamish
sold Matta products to ‘every
council in England’, building up a
solid rapport with his customers.
Hamish married an English girl,
Lara and now has two daughters.
They live in Virginia Waters, Surrey
West of London’s M25. Eventually
Hamish sold his distribution
company, but retained his focus on
council’s needs.
His new company, Pro-Teq
Surfacing has just patented
innovative pathway re-surfacing
methodology called STARPATH.
Hamish Scott said, “Councils spend
significant sums of money fully
replacing existing pathways when
the existing surfaces have reached
the end of their practical life. Our
productiscosteffective,fasttoapply
and fast to set, is an anti-slip surface,
while the client has a choice of size
and colour of aggregate. Once the
aggregate is laid we apply a finishing
coat, which is specially formulated
to ensure the surface is water-
resistant, and provides longevity
to the finished product.
Further, the surface is
environmentally-friendly
and aesthetically pleasing”. He
continued, “We are so pleased
Cambridge City Council has agreed
to trial the product. STARPATH
has attracted much interest from
the public, in
C a m b r i d g e
and other
councils in the UK. We continue to
refineandadapttheproducttoensure
it meets the on-going needs of our
customers and the environment”.
Continued on page: 2
Hamish Scott

Page: 2 Otaki Mail - 30 October 2013
Otaki Kindergarten
68a Waerenga Road, Otaki
Phone 06 364 8553
Email otaki@wn-kindergarten.org.nz
Hours of operation
Teina (younger children)
Tues & Fri 8.30 am – 12.40 pm
Tuakana (older)
Mon, Wed & Thurs 8.45 am - 2.45 pm
Call in to kindergarten to complete an
enrolment form or do it online at
www.wn-kindergarten.org.nz
Or just pop in for a look around the
kindergarten
• Vacancies available
• We provide a high quality Educational
programme
• All teachers fully trained
By MARGARET ANDREWS
There was plenty for everyone to
do at the Otaki College gala with a
good variety of stalls, activities and
entertainment as people came out
and enjoyed the bright sunshine.
“It was a fabulous day, enjoyed
by a large number of people of
all ages,” said Megan Nelson-
Latu, Home & School Committee
spokesperson. “And the weather
was stunning!”
Numbers were on a par with the
last two years and they expected to
raise between $8000-$9000, with
the proceeds going to fund student
activities and gear.
There were the traditional
gala stalls - cakes, books, white
elephant, toys and plants, hot dog,
sausage sizzles and sandwich stalls
along with the Chow Mein and
the sweets, toffee apples and cold
drinks, which were popular during
the lunch hour, the chicken wheel
quick draw raffles and hangi were
also popular.
Out on the back field were the
bouncy castles, paintball and horse
rides, with new activities – wet
sponge stocks, “smash-em-up” car
wrecking and “Knock your Block
Off – opposing warriors dressed in
inflated garments trying to knock
the “head” off the opposition with
a giant sized inflated paddle! Other
activities included a Japanese
fishing game, face painting, and
raffles.
Among the goods donated to the
gala, was a pretty woman’s powder
box containing some hidden
treasure, it was in a box of goods
including a New Zealand book
inscribed “To Mum from Barry”.
If anyone recognises the container
or book, please contact the college
office as they are keen to return the
unexpected treasure.
Maddie Hawley-Stone sang to
the crowd and the year 10 dance
class gave a demonstration of a
“flash mob” dance. In a quiet spot
by the whanau centre, people could
sit and listen toAndrew and Kirsten
London sing and play guitar as they
enjoyed a quiet cuppa at the café.
The gala was organised by the
Home & School committee with
support from staff and parents.
It seems Pro-Teq are ‘streets
ahead of the rest’ and are clearly
welcomed by many. Pro-Teq has
earned an outstanding reputation for
repeat business from key customers,
primarily because its customers
recognise there is a significant
technology and environmental gap
between Pro-Teq products and more
traditional resurfacing options.
The Cambridge path took
Hamish and his team of four only
four hours to resurface the existing
pathway. People were able to walk
on the new path half an hour later.
Best of all, it’s inexpensive, costing
only $150 a square metre, which
may sound a lot, but in council
terms, it’s cheap and effective.
How does it work ? It’s spray-
applied as a three coat process.
First the polyurethane base, then
the aggregate (or rubber chip)
coating, finally the polyaspartic top
sealer coat. The aggregate material
absorbs and stores energy from
ambient (UV) light during the day,
then releases the energy at night,
allowing the particles to glow.
Why are councils so excited ?
Local government is trying to cut
costs by cutting night-time lighting.
Starpath may provide the solution.
Hamish reports “As far as I know
(and I speak to Cambridge City
Council regularly) the path has
been received very well. Radio
Cambridge broadcast live from
the site earlier this week and were
stopping passers-by and asking
their opinion, and all of them were
very favourable!
The Otaki Mail asked Hamish
whether this would be suitable
for resurfacing our troubled Main
Street footpaths. He laughed: ‘I
will be back in December but will
not be doing any demos. I can’t
spray without my trucks and I
can’t put them on a flight! As much
as I would love to help Otaki to
resurface their main street, I think
that project may have to wait for a
while longer.’
Hamish's Glittering Path Continued from page: 1
Fabulous day enjoyed by all ages
Eric Matthews works hard at the chicken wheel egging people on to buy the quick fire raffle tickets, with offers of
“great prizes”.
Not bareback but backwards! Cooper James aged, was so confident riding
old Moose he straddled the saddle backwards as he was led around the ring.

Page: 3Otaki Mail - 30 October 2013
SummerSet by the rangeS – love the life
Otaki and Te Horo residents who have made the move to Summerset by the Ranges
Great people make a great retirement village.
Nowhere is that truer than at Summerset by
the Ranges.
We have a warm and welcoming community
where the greetings are friendly and the smiles
are genuine. We’re here to enjoy life – whether
it’s the organised activities or just getting
together for a cup of tea and a chat. There are
so many things to do here – and, of course, it’s
always up to you which activities you choose
to enjoy.
If you would like to know more about
Summerset by the Ranges, call Robyn Minchin
on 06 367 3085 or drop in if you’re passing by.
You will find our lovely, established village at
102 Liverpool Street, Levin.
An affordable home – a more
enjoyable life
When you come to Summerset, living in
an affordably priced home – with no rates
or maintenance bills – means you have the
time and the means to enjoy your life to the
fullest.
Right now we can show you a selection
of homes that we know you will love, at a
price you will love. Drop in if you’re passing
by, or call Robyn on 06 367 3085.
Meet Robyn from Summerset
Gertrude Atmore Supper Room
Otaki Memorial Hall, Main Street, Otaki
Wednesday 6 November, 2pm – 4pm
Renee - always a writer
By MARGARET ANDREWS
It ain’t all Honey and it ain’t all Jam, a
journey from childhood to today with 84 year
old playwright, novelist, nonfiction writer,
teacher, poet, gardener and cook, Renee, at
a recent evening at the Otaki Community
Health Centre.
“A book is a book is a book… it’s a book
whether it’s online or between covers”, Renee
(she prefers just Renee) as she encompasses
the modern technology and writing e-books,
one chapter a week “if Charles Dickens could
publish a chapter a week in a newspaper in
Victorian times, I thought I
could do the same in the 21st
century, on the net!”
Although she was a “bright”
child – “of course you got as
high in class as you could” was
her mother’s approval when
she came top in class! She had
littleformaleducation,leaving
school at age 12. Renee had
always enjoyed writing and
so sent some articles away for
publication; although she was
soon getting paid for her work,
after early rejections she knew
she had to learn how to write
for publication. She joined the
Hawkes Bay branch of the NZ
Women’s Writers Group, soon
realising almost all members
were university graduates!
She began writing essays
and then started extramural
study and attended Auckland
University in her third year. It
took 10 years to complete her
arts degree.
She wrote her first play
'What did you do in the war Mummy' after
she graduated and later 'Wednesday to Come',
which was written for her mother who died
at 42 when Renee was just 19. The play was
directed by well-known actor and director,
George Webby, with Kate Harcourt, Jane
Waddell and Georgina Whitehouse, opening
at Downstage theatre. This was followed by
a revue which later went on tour around New
Zealand.
“I knew now I could write stage shows that
people would come to see” she said.
Renee has received many awards for her
work and contributions to literature, theatre,
teaching and mentoring, the pinnacle being
made a Member of the New Zealand Order of
Merit, and her most recent the Kingi Ihaaka
award; she has also held the Robert Burns
Fellowship at Otago University, the Waikato
Writing Fellowship at Waikato University
and the Randell Cottage Fellowship in
Wellington.
More recently she has been tutor and
mentor at the Whitireia Polytechnic creative
writing programme and led many workshops.
Her 'Your Life, Your Story' workshops on
Memoirs for the Cancer Society and in the
wider community led to the book 'Your Life,
Your Story' a Practical Guide to Writing
Memoirs.
In 2012 she began her own website
Wednesday Busk.com publishing a chapter of
a novel each Wednesday, Wednesday poems
contributed by poets from around the country
and a Writers Talk interviews with well-
known NZ writers, poets and playwrights,
and a blog in which she muses on life,
gardening and writing.
More recently she has been teaching at a
nine week writing workshop through the
Otaki Women’s Health Centre, who hosted
the evening.
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If you live in Te Horo and have something newsworthy to share, call 364
3046 or Email Vivienne on viv.bailey@xtra.co.nz Let’s put Te Horo on the
map and make Te Horo an essential part of the Otaki Mail every month.
By MARGARET ANDREWS
After nearly 30 years of clearing rubbish and
keeping the grass cut and grounds tidy, the swimming
pool in use and the heating operating, Otaki College
caretaker Llew Ellis, hung up his keys and retired at
the end of term three.
The former jockey’s first taste of working at the
college was on a placement on the former Department
of Works work scheme, from which he gained the
caretaker’s position.
“That first morning this cocky little jockey walked
up the drive and I wondered what the heck they’d
sent me,” former principal Rex Kerr told Mr Ellis’s
farewell assembly. “But later we hired him! He’s been
here almost 30 years, that’s a remarkable time for
anyone.”
Mr Ellis has stayed in the job for close to 30 years,
no one was quite sure when he officially started work,
and he has seen many changes in that time. Workwise
the best upgrade would have had to be to the automatic
natural gas system which lit at the flick of a switch;
before that it was the coal fired boiler, where he had
to shovel the coal off the truck into the coal bunker
and then into the boiler, getting it started early each
winter’s morning, so classrooms and offices were
warm by the time pupils and staff arrived for the day.
From his first days to his retirement he has made
many friends among staff and students.
“Heartfelt thanks to you, for the 28-29 years you’ve
served the school,” Principal Andy Fraser said.
“Every burglar in town knew Llew and knew if he
caught them he’d take them off at their knees”
He presented Mr Ellis with a kauri waka which had
been carved in traditional patterns, one symbolising
strength, agility and swiftness, the other representing
the Atua - the gods, who protect all who sail in the
waka and the person who owns it. A smaller waka,
once given to Mr Fraser by Mr Ellis, was attached
outrigger style, as Mr Fraser felt it belonged to his
workmate, having been carved by a friend of his many
years before.
The whole school then performed a haka, in
recognition of what Mr Ellis meant to them and the
work he did at the college.
One of his earliest duties was security, there were
no lights or alarms then and he would do his rounds
accompanied by his “guard dog” Schulz, a “huge”
Alsatian cross who followed him everywhere.
Teacher, Gillian Gordon spoke of how reassuring
it was to know he was around, when she was in a
classroom after hours and the alarm went off. “I only
had to text Llew and he’d come.”
He was known to be pretty good at picking winners
and always had some good tips going, but former
teacher, Rod Graham said the best tip was “Always
do what the principal says, but remember the most
important people were the lady in the office and the
caretaker!!”
“I knew nothing about this today,” he said of the
total surprise of the assembly presentation and the
morning tea. Maybe his fellow staff members knew
him too well, judging by the photographic proof of his
ability to “disappear” when it was time for the annual
staff photo, they probably rightly guessed he would be
“missing’ at the appropriate moment!
There were several former staff members at the
farewell assembly and morning tea, who added their
memories to the occasion during morning tea.
By MARGARET ANDREWS
An Otaki resident’s last wishes were granted, when
he received a military burial following his death in late
September.
Staff Officer (retired) William Charles Cooper died on
September 26 and as a long serving officer was entitled
to a full military honours burial. His funeral service -
tangi, was held at Whakarongatai Marae in Waikanae,
before his casket was brought back to Otaki for the burial
ceremony. The flag draped casket was loaded onto a gun
carriage and escorted up Anzac Road to the soldiers
cemetery, accompanied by an escort party from the 2nd
Engineers Regiment based at Linton Army Camp.
“I served with Bill in three separate units,” said David
Maloney, National Vice President for NZRSA.
“He was a fellow with lots of skill, integrity and
honesty. We will miss him.”Over 300 family and friends
attended the service and burial, with his former SAS
mates recited the “brothers’ ode”, sang their song The
Green Green Grass of home, which was followed by
three rounds of rifle salute, playing of the Last Post with
the lowering of the flag and Reveille to end the formal
part of the burial.
“It cannot be recalled when such a funeral was last
held at Otaki Cemetery,” president of the Otaki RSA,
Colin Robertson, said.
A military funeral is the entitlement of any long
serving officer and is arranged by the NZ Defence Force.
Bill Cooper served 23 years in the NZ Army, enlisting
in 1963 he saw action in Vietnam, Malaya and later with
the Special Air Service in Borneo. After 10 years with
the SAS he was discharged in 1984 when he transferred
to the Reserve Officers list until his retirement a year
later.
A little known part of Mr Cooper’s life was his
involvement with the Te Maori Expo from when it
opened in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Arts in
1984. Many of his extended family were involved with
the kapa haka group which attended the opening.
Te Horo Christmas Market
Plans are currently underway
for the community’s Christmas
Market, which will be held,
rain or shine, on Saturday,
14th December at Te Horo
Community Hall. This is the
eighth year for the market, a
popular destination for both the
local community and those from
further afield. Spokesperson,
Sharon Hurst, said she’s
received many enquiries already
regarding stalls.
“It’s a great family morning
out, and also a way of supporting
your local community.”
Bookings can be made from late
October by contacting Ms Hurst
on 06 364 3624 or sharonizzy@
xtra.co.nz
Craft Circle expands
The success of Te Horo’s
Craft Circle group has led to an
extension of hours which are
now 10.00am to 4.00pm, at Te
Horo Hall.
“The ladies wanted more time
to craft so we experimented last
month with a new time – it was
a great success.”
Crafters are now able to bring
along their sewing machines
and larger projects to work on,
such as quilts. Crafts involved
are varied, and include advent
calendar-making, hand-
smocking and card-making.
Newcomers are always
welcome, “you don’t need to
stay all day and it’s only $2
for a coffee.” Next meeting is
Wednesday, 13 November.
Te Horo Community Market
If you find yourself with
a large surplus of fruit or
something in your garden, or
you’re starting up a new craft,
you’ll be welcome at Te Horo’s
regular monthly market. Stalls
are available and “there’s no
need to commit to having a
stall every month. It’s a great,
friendly market and a lot of
fun.” Next market is Sunday 3
November, 10.00am to 12.30pm
- to book a stall contact Barbara
on 06 364 3900.
Drinks and Nibbles
The monthly evening get-
together at Te Horo Hall
continues to attract new
faces, and last month saw “an
incredible turnout.” The BYO
event is a great way to meet
newcomers to the area and to
catch up with old mates and
neighbours – just bring a plate
of something to share and a
drink – next Drinks and Nibbles
is Friday, 1 November, 5.30pm.
I wondered what the heck
they’d sent me
Military funeral for long serving officer

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by LLOYD CHAPMAM
One of the more interesting
developments for Otaki's
Cleantech Park is the recycling
and reprocessing of tyres.
Kapiti resident Reiner Wenzel is
embarking on a factory to recycle
tyres from cars & trucks. He plans
a prototype factory commencing
March, employing 7 local staff to
process initially 400,000 tyres per
annum. A more ambitious 24,000
square metre factory processing
ten times the initial volume is
scheduled to come onstream
in late 2015. It is projected to
employ 50 people.
So how does it all work ? A
conventional car tyre weighs
about 10kg. It comprises 85%
rubber, 12% steel, 3% fibre. At
the end of its life, having travelled
about 80,000km, it weighs 9kg
and the original steel and fibre
remain. Collecting and recycling
tyres is a difficult business, with
a large proportion of tyres finding
their way into landfills, where
they do not decompose. Car tyres
generally have 70% synthetic
rubber, 30% natural. Truck tyres
are much higher in natural rubber.
Reiner's approach is to shred
tyres direct at the collection point,
with a trailer-mounted shredder,
resulting in a coarse granulated
product that is easily transported
to the Otaki factory for further
processing.
Back at the factory, the
granules are shredded, with
steel and fabric separated out.
The remaining rubber is ground
down to the consistency of
fine sugar granules. The rubber
granules are 'devulcanised' with
heat & pressure into long-chain
hydrocarbons. This results in a
sticky powder. Next comes the
clever bit, involving the 'secret
ingredient', which he describes as
the 'revulcanise' process, which
produces 'new' rubber. This will
be exported to the far east, where
there exists a ready market for the
production of tyres, or conveyor
belts.
Right now, New Zealand
consumes 4 million tyres
annually. Reiner's pilot plant
will process 400,000 tyres. His
$20 million factory scheduled
for 2015 will have a capacity
to take 1/3 of all NZ tyres or
approximately 3,000,000 tyres
annually . It will run 24/7 and
will employ 50 staff. When
the factory is running, Reiner
reckons he will need 10 trailer-
mounted shredders, to operate
throughout the country. This is
the sort of operation that might be
franchised, in the long term. The
Otaki factory will recruit locally,
and will need machine operators,
mechanics, and eventually will
provide apprenticeships for
school-leavers.
Why Otaki ? Well, Reiner has
visited NZ many times, likes
Kapiti as a place to live, and
has been seduced by KCDC and
their forward-looking Cleantech
initiative. The Ministry for the
Environment have endorsed his
proposals, having determined
that his processes are not
environmentally harmful. Nigel
Pritchard and his Riverbank
Engineering team of innovative
engineers are looking forward to
working with Reiner to produce
tyre-munching machines. There is
already strong foreign interest for
this type of equipment. Interested
parties are scheduled to arrive
in Otaki from China, Germany
and elsewhere this November
to secure the purchase of the
recycled rubber, says Reiner.
With Matta Products having
already established Otaki as a
clever recycling centre, Reiner
Wenzel is set to expand the town's
reputation.
Tyre Recycling Plant For Otaki
"The devulcaniser"

Taking Otaki’s pulse
Otaki
Birthing
Services
www.otakimidwives.org.nz Phone: 364 8337
Open Thursday’s from 10.30am -12pm or by arrangement
Please ring for more information regarding the next ante natal class or to
make an appointment to be seen
He Whare Kohanga Ora
Maternity Information and Resource Centre
288 Main Highway, Otaki
Ōtaki Community
Health Centre
186 Mill Road, Otaki
Otaki Women’s Health Centre
Sexual Health Clinics
Cervical Screening Clinics
Counselling
Total Mobility Agent
Health Information
Yoga
Meals on Wheels
Arthritis Support Group
Bowen Therapy 362 6603
Rebirthing Breathwork 021 143 4099
ebooks Accounting 027 229 2312
MidCentral DHB – Alcohol & Other Drugs Service,
Child, Adolescent & Family Mental Health
and Adult Mental Health Service
Rooms available for rent, long or short term
For information on services phone Janet or Michelle on 364 6367
Monday – Friday
Place: Otaki Medical Centre
2 Aotaki Street
Otaki
Date: Tuesday 19 November
Time: 4pm – 6pm
No appointment necessary
All welcome
Free Spot Checks
By MARGARET ANDREWS
Often the thought of exercising
brings about thoughts of pain and
anguish from bending, stretching
and twisting or pavement
pounding, but at Kori Kaumatua
the sessions are fun and non
–stressful.
Kori Kaumatua – is exercise for
the older persons. Forget about
fast aerobics, “air-punching"
exercises or lifting. The beauty of
Kori Kaumatua is it low impact
and relatively slow; the actions
are smooth and the heaviest object
you will lift is a ball! It involves
stretching using resistance bands
and chair aerobics – sitting on your
chair, so no “heaving” yourself off
the floor and you can hang on to
the back of your chair for balance
if you need.
“My family has seen a
difference in me and say keep it
up Mum” 80 plus year old Jean
Hing said. “With the combination
movements, especially arm
movements, my strength and
balance are improving.” Mrs Hing
has been attending for two months.
The twice weekly classes
are held at Nga Pura Pura, the
gymnasium complex opposite Te
Wananga O Raukawa. Leader,
Ngawira Logan, who started the
classes after completing a Degree
in Maori Lifestyle Development
and sports coaching, including
health and fitness.
“Many of the exercises help
with strengthening muscles in
the arms and chest, which helps
recovery from body scarring and
co-ordination movements with
stroke rehabilitation,” Ms Logan
said.
“Ours are really easy, not
stressful and we all do it together,”
said Laree Mann, who is
recovering from a stroke; she has
been attending since classes began
five months ago. “It’s improved my
movement and balance, making
what we do easier and the more
you do the more you get from it.”
Another delighted attendee
is Waikura Logan, Ngawira’s
mother. She has been waiting for a
knee replacement operation, when
she first came to the classes she
was walking with two crutches,
now she can walk on her own.
“Awesome, absolutely awesome,”
she exclaimed. “Since coming
here I’ve seen people with various
medical conditions and see how
they have improved. It’s good for
their health and wellbeing.”
The classes are open to anyone
and run between 10 & 11 on
Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
The only charge is $2 for the
morning tea provided at the end of
class
MS Logan said they are trialling
another group on Monday night at
5pm, class runs for 40-45 minutes.
By MARGARET ANDREWS
The child car restraint law
changes from November 1, from
when it will be compulsory for all
children aged five to their eighth
birthday to use an approved child
restraint.
There are a variety of booster
seats on the market including the
half seat, which is just the base,
using the adult seat belt.
“Although the half booster seat is
legal, we don’t recommend them as
they have no place to secure the seat
belt away from the child’s neck and
have no neck or back protection,
in a high impact collision,” said
Maheno Stone, Levin Plunket
qualified car seat technician.
The New Zealand Plunket
Society has extended its carseat hire
service to include the booster seats,
and their trained technicians can
advise on the correct restraints for
your children. The booster seats can
also be purchased from Plunket and
they will provide quotes for Work
and Income NZ funding, where
applicable. The seats available from
Plunket range in price from $110-
$280. The more expensive one has
a five point harness and can be used
by a child from three years or 29.4
kilograms up to 50 kilograms.
The Levin Plunket Rooms
in Cambridge Street is the
closest carseat advice and
recommendations centre for Otaki
people. Parents unsure of any
information they have received can
contact the Levin office on phone
06 3686762 or 029 7799667.
While a likely scenario with
children over five, who now use
just the adult seatbelt, will be a
“protest” at having to go back to
using car seats again, but point out
the positive – the higher they sit the
more they can see out through the
window.
Levin Plunket’s Maheno Stone checks the booster seat for correct position
and seatbelt security, four year old Rasela Fonoti from the Fanau Pasifika
Kindergarten.
Keep them Safe!
Forget about fast aerobics

Focus On ..... .... Friends of the Otaki River
by LLOYD CHAPMAN
George Gray of Ngati Raukawa was
born atTainui in 1931. In 1951 he joined
the Manawatu Catchment Board, as the
overseer of the Otaki river. He retired
from the Wellington Regional Council
forty years later. Initially much of the
river work was done by hand, then by
dragline, then tractors. Now modern
diggers make it much easier. George
remembers the great flood of 1955,
when the river jumped to a different
course, away from Chrystall's bend. He
respects the Otaki river: 'You can't trust
Nature: the river can change within
hours'. Carl's family came to Otaki
in 1935 and have farmed beside the
river for nearly eight decades. George
respects the contribution of the Lutz
family to the Otaki river.
This year, in glorious sunshine, the
Greater Wellington Regional Council
(GWRC) and the Friends Of The
Otaki River (FOTOR) conducted
their river walkover. This, the 13th
annual walkover represents valuable
community consultation; a chance
for GWRC to showcase their flood
protection work, and for the community
to see FOTOR's development and
planting of the river margin.
The Friends began in 2001, with
Don Hunn as chairman. He was
succeeded by Peter Pope, and since
2005 Max Lutz has headed the vibrant
organisation, which comprises more
than 200 members, representing all
walks of Otaki life. All the old families
are represented on the Executive, in a
list that looks like the "who's who" of
Otaki: Eric Matthews, Trevor Wylie,
Peter Pope, Ron Clouston, Barry Cole,
Ted Gimblett, Pat Hakaraia, Alan
Jones, Barry Mansell, Christine Papps,
Cathy Strong, Peter Waering, Leonore
Winterburn, Margaret Bayston, Penny
Gaylor, Margaret Niven, Rupene
Waaka, Graeme Winterburn.
In three buses, the 115 visitors were
taken first to the Rahui cliffs at the
upper reaches of the river. The braided
Otaki river system carries the greatest
volume of water of all the rivers off the
Taratuas. Matsudana willows have, in
GWRC's opinion proved to be the best
way to inhibit erosion, doing a better
job than native plantings.
Rock groynes will be erected at the
end of debris fences on the Southern
bank to prevent erosion of the
riverbank. In 1998 when GWRC began
re-alignment, the river was 80 metres
wide. In the second phase, bulldozers
widened the river to ensure that the
river channel was in the middle of
the river which was widened to 240
metres. New stopbanks were built, in a
$2 million scheme to provide buffers to
protect the Rahui valley of Otaki from
serious flooding. As part of the channel
management plan, 54,000 cubic metres
of gravel are extracted annually. Bunds
have been built to protect FOTOR's
planting of natives. Chrystall's Bend
is no longer the weak link in the Otaki
river flood management system.
Morning tea at Chrystall's lagoon
gave a chance to hear about some of
the important aspects of floodplain
management, and to celebrate the
supportive works of FOTOR. Chairman
Max Lutz spoke enthusiastically of Rex
Kerr's book Otaki River, an important
piece of work documenting the history
of the river and its people. Max says
this is the first book on the Otaki River,
and sold out within 4 months of its first
printing last year. Now in reprint, it is
available from New World, Caltex, and
RiverStone Cafe at a cost of $30, with
all proceeds going to FOTOR's planting
and restoration projects.
Next, we witnessed the presentation
of a cheque for $5,000 from the
Philipp foundation to enable children
from Otaki Primary School to plant
1,000 seedlings at the estuary next
year. The Philipp foundation sponsors
conservation, health and education in
Kapiti.
There are now eight km of public
walkways along the Otaki river. To the
East, you can walk up the Northern
bank to Chrystall's Lagoon, where the
extensive plantings by FOTOR can
be viewed. To the West, both banks
of the river have good pathways.
On the Southern side, you can walk
down the stopbanks as far as Katihiku
marae. On the Northern side, you can
walk from the carpark past the gravel
extraction plant all the way down to the
rivermouth.
The recently-erected viewing plat-
form affords a good view over to
Katihiku and beyond to Kapiti island.
Te Waari Carkeek told the group of an
incorporation of 4,000 owners who run
the land, grazed under lease by a local
farmer. There is the largest colony of
pied stilts in the region, together with
a population of lizards in the grassy
sand dunes. The massive weed bur-
den is a problem that requires ongoing
maintenance.
Mark Hooker of GWRC spoke of the
stopbanks near the gravel extraction
plant. They were originally erected
in the 1940s. Their purpose was to
withstand one-in-20 year floods, with
more extreme flooding overflowing
into the adjacent market garden land.
Gravel extraction allows GWRC to
effectively manage the river channel,
while being mindful of environmental
effects.
Chairman Max Lutz spoke with
enthusiasm of the planting carried
out by FOTOR. Public planting days
several times every winter afford the
community a chance to participate.
With pre-dug holes, it is not uncommon
for more than a hundred people to
participate. To date, plantings exceed
45,000 natives. FOTOR has been a
victim of its own success, and without
a Ministry for the Environment grant,
they would not be able to maintain
the ongoing support demanded by the
burgeoning plantings.
The real success story belongs,
however to the 15-20 volunteers who
turn up everyWednesday morning at the
FOTOR nursery at the Riverbank road
GWRC depot. This was the brainchild
of the late Dr Barrie Bayston, who
reasoned that they would never be able
to afford to purchase all the natives for
their planting projects. So he developed
a nursery, using eco-sourced seeds.
He was able to produce plants at one
third the cost of local nurseries. Now
the nursery has an annual production
of 5,000 plants, all of the very highest
quality.
Back at the GWRC depot, lunch was
served, and everyone had a chance
to talk to GWRC staff, inspect the
nursery, and talk about future plans for
enhancing the riparian environment of
the Otaki river.
Two Oldies but Goodies - Carl Lutz & George Gray
Friends of the River with Chrystall's bend in the background
Cathy Strong, Max Lutz and Rex Kerr discuss the book
Margaret Bayston and Viola Palmer in the nursery
Ray and Irene Mackle, representing the Philipp
foundation, present children from Otaki School with
the cheque
The Otaki Mail thanks GWRC for the photographs used in this article.
Eric Matthews and Max Lutz admire Eric's sign

Grant Robertson
238MainHighway
OtakiNZ
Forallenquiries
063648350
GBRRealtyLtd,licensedREAA2008
The banks are moving to limit
lending to people with less than 10%
and have the ability to limit their risk
to borrowers with 20% and above
deposit. The Reserve Bank’s limit on
LVR (high–loan–to-value) lending
has affected some purchasers in the
bigger cities, (some real estate agents
are reporting), where 20% deposits are
very difficult for first home buyers.
Currently the major banks write
loans at LVR levels are at 29% of
their lending; this will now reduce
by one third. ASB’s move to cancel
preapprovals for borrowers has had
a chilling effect on some first home
buyers as reported by the media. While
many of the banks are reviewing who
they will lend to, some bank’s lending
criteria are strongly favouring the first
home buyer as preference, other will
lend only to existing customers, so it is
time to shop around.
There is a mixed reaction from the
loan markets as to the effect of the LVR,
most believe that it will not affect the
volume of sales within the residential
real estate market, as investors will
step in to pick up the slack. Other
market influences are the slowly rising
fixed interest rates in the past months;
however, these have not yet had an
effect on reducing house prices.
So while the Reserve Banks
intention for the LVR is to have
an effect on limiting house value
increased, particularly in Auckland,
the predictions are this will apply
influence over a period of time, except
in some markets such as Auckland
and Christchurch whereby, supply
and demand will still be the drivers on
prices.
Bach - Change of rules
Another legislative change has been
in Bach depreciation and the mixed
–use of assets which include rental
homes, charter boats and aircraft.
The new rule requires reductions that
relate to rented and private use of the
property. The new rules increase the
record taking liability of the owner. If
in doubt check with your accountant
so you are prepared for 2014 tax
compliance.
Feeling the chill- First home buyers
'Te Ora Pai' the perfect place to live the lifestyle - in the mild benevolent Manakau climate.
Here on your 3HA (approx 7ac) of quality grazing land, here amongst orchard,ponds, cows
and chooks. Handy to Manakau Village for school and society, handy to Otaki for shopping
and transport. Your young 4 bedroom home, master, ensuite, double garage, open plan
living, elevated views and decks, is a delightful spot to live the rural idle.
Offers around $520,000
Classic Lifestyle
90 Manakau Heights Drive, Manakau
MARGARET ANDREWS
The planting of 30 heritage
apple trees at Stand Children’s
Services is the beginning of new
groundsman, Bob Monaghan’s
desire to have food producing
crops growing on site.
The trees are a mix of cooking
and fresh eating apples and should
start producing fruit within a
year or two. New Zealand Tree
Crops Association (NZTCA)
eight members spent the morning
digging holes and planting the
trees at Stand (formerly Children’s
Health Camp), the beginnings of
an on-site orchard and garden.
“This will be great, it’s a start,”
Mr Monaghan said, he’s keen to
have food crops growing on site.
A few months ago, Hannah
Swartz, Kapiti Coast Council’s
Green Gardener, had mentioned to
NZTCA’s Sharon Hurst, she was
looking for help to plant fruit trees
at Stand. Ms Hurst mentioned
the project at a Plant Propagation
night class she attends and was
offered the apple trees by class
tutor Warren Kerruish, who had
grafted them.
The project received assistance
with donations of products, from
Composting NZ a mix of compost
and soil - the camp grounds are
very sandy, Farmlands Otaki and
with Mitchpine Products 60 stakes
for the new trees to keep them
steady as the put down their roots
and Electra’s mulch to help the
trees retain moisture in the difficult
conditions at the Otaki Beach, the
new trees are off to a good start –
there was even a good rainfall over
the next day or two.
“Personally, I find it a bit of a
disappointment children often
don’t know where their food comes
from,” Ms Hurst said. “We help
where we can with planting trees
and some propagation, we hold
regular monthly field events to see
how plantings are growing and can
give advice where needed.”
One of main objectives for the
Wellington-Horowhenua Branch
of NZTCA’s is to show people tree
planting as a crop – both fruit and
nut trees and pine. Currently they
have almond trees growing on one
site as they try to find which area is
best for growing almonds.
“We try to help the community,”
Ms Hurst said. Over the last couple
of years the group has planted a
mixture of fruit trees at Kapanui
School in Waikanae and fruit trees
at St Matthews Park in Raumati
and they are hoping to be able to
plants more fruit trees in schools
around the area.
The Kapiti Concert Orchestra
is delighted to be playing its
very own timpani in their
next concert in Levin this
November. Thanks to a very
generous grant from the Philipp
Foundation, the orchestra has
been able to purchase three
timpani, and will have them for
the November 16th concert.
Also known as kettle drums,
timpani are an essential part
of the percussion section and
are traditionally a large copper
bowl with a drum skin and can
be tuned to different notes.
The modern instrument can be
aluminum which 0makes the
drums lighter and more easily
transportable.
The orchestra is also
delighted to have been asked to
play at Te Takere and this will
be the first time an orchestra
has performed in Levin. There
will be about 50 players,
mostly from the Kapiti Coast
and a few from the Wellington
area. The programme includes
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker
Suite, Hummel’s Trumpet
Concerto, Mendelssohn’s
Midsummer Nights Dream,
and to finish, Anderson’s toe
tapping Sleigh Ride.
Concert Saturday Nov 16th
at 4.30pm at Te Takere, Levin.
Tickets from Te Takere, online
or from KCO
We welcome new players
– google Kapiti Concert
Orchestra for more details
New Drums for Kapiti
Orchestra
Pictured with the 3 timpani – Doreen Douglas, Timpanist, Fran Tull and
Angela Ford, KCO committee members
Children often don’t know where
their food comes from
Sharon Hurst and Hannah Zwartz KCDC’s Green Gardener, secure a new heritage apple tree against the strong coastal
winds at Stand Children’s centre

By MARGARET ANDREWS
Otaki’s second Community
Organisations Expo was a great
success with 26 groups on hand to
display or give demonstrations and
give people a chance to try their
hand at some of activities on show.
Expo organisers Otaki Village
Promotions Group members,
were delighted with the response
from the public with over 500
people who visited the expo in the
Memorial Hall.
“There are good contacts being
made and there’s such a variety,”
said Carol Ward, speaking for the
organisers. “We delighted with the
turnout.”
The Kapiti Coast Council’s new
Clean Technology electric rubbish
truck drew lots of interest outside
the front door.
The Otaki Bowling Club had an
indoor mat down and people could
have a go at bowling or petanque,
there was an opportunity to wage
battle at the Miniature War Games
table, pot a cabbage tree seed with
the Waitohu Stream Care Group
then take it home and care for it
till it was big enough to move to
a bigger pot or into the garden. A
foursome from the Otaki Bridge
Club set up a table and played a
round of bridge for the duration
of the expo. The local Tai Kwon
Do club gave a demonstration of
the skills and the Otaki Athletics
Club was able to enrol several new
families for the season.
Among Otaki service groups
and clubs were representatives
from Rotary International,
Transition Towns and their
Time Bank, Community Patrol,
Civil Defence, Probus Club and
members of the Menzshed, the
Historical Society, Kapiti Older
Persons’ Council, Volunteer
Kapiti, Alzheimer’s Society
and the Literacy organisations.
“There’s been lots of interest and
with over 500 people visiting,
moving the expo into the hall was
the right thing to do,” Otaki Village
Promotions Debbie Carson said.
By MARGARET ANDREWS
Kids Go Green in Kapiti,
planting seeds and recycling junk
kept the younger children busy
over at the library during the school
holidays, while the teenagers built
on their artistic skills learning two
forms of portraiture.
Growing seeds has always
fascinated children and they had
the opportunity to make a “cress
head” – filling the toe of an old
stocking or similar with cress
seeds, decorating a plastic pot,
yoghurt pots are ideal, sitting the
head on top add some eyes and
keep it moist. The seeds should
sprout within a few days and keep
a fairly continuous growth of
cress, for a time.
The second week it was
Junkobots – robots made from
recycled grocery boxes, tins,
plastic bottles and such. The kids
were very creative with their
robots, sticking and gluing with the
hot glue gun, to keep them more
secure, then giving each a name.
Both sessions began with stories
on the day's theme, whether
planting or growing seeds, and
the stories of different robots and
recycling.
Otaki children’s librarian, Pam
Coleman, showed them several
of her “treasures” telling a story
about each the magical powers
of a moonstone or pendant, then
invited the children to choose a
treasure and tell their story.
“”It was good fun with the
recycling message. I enjoyed the
robot session, it was great to see the
kids’ imaginations,” Ms Coleman
said. “The seed heads in the first
week were really good fun, they
used shells and driftwood, natural
stuff to decorate.”
Parents and grandparents joined
in the fun both days.
For the older ones their art days
involved developing skills to make
an object appear three dimensional
and the following week block
portrait painting where they
copied a black and white portrait
using just black and white paints
and using blocks of colour and
shadows to create a portrait. The
four girls were all amazed at their
finished portraits.
The teen art programmes were
run by Jacinta McFarlane, a
Kapiti Youth Council member,
currently doing a Diploma in
Art and Creativity at Whitireia
Polytechnic.
“Tracey-Lea (Morgan, KCDC
youth activities co-ordinator) came
to one of the council meeting, I
met up with her and we decided to
make libraries more teen friendly,
through art,” Jacinta said.
"It's nice to offer something for
the teens - there’s plenty for the
younger children,” Miss Morgan
said. “The girls all said “suck”
when presented with the art
workshop but they gave it a go
and all ended up with something
beautiful they all wanted to take
away.”
Ms Morgan was co-ordinator of
the programmes which were run at
all four Kapiti libraries during the
holidays.
26 groups on hand display their activities
Members of the Otaki Bridge Club
played a few rubbers of Bridge, during
the Community organisations Expo
Growing seeds has always fascinated children
Above: Painting a portrait using block
colour, was a new experience for
Georgia Rice 12, at the Otaki Library
Teen Art programme, as she made a
recognisable copy of a One Direction
member’s a photograph.
Left: Creating Stinkpot was a highlight
of eight year old Manaia Smith-
Bennett’s making a robot from
recycled materials, at the Otaki
Library’s holiday programme.

Constructing your own straw bale garden is a cheap and easy
alternative to building raised beds and comes with an added benefit
- you can put it anywhere - in the middle of your lawn or maybe the
driveway – as long as it receives at least six to eight hours of sun.
Straw is an ideal container for growing vegetables – the hollow
tubes suck up and hold moisture, and as the insides of the bales
decompose (bales heat up much quicker than soil) they provide a rich
home for your veggies.
It’s best to source your straw direct from a farm, rather than
from your local garden centre, particularly if you want to garden
organically. And remember - straw is easier to come by in autumn, so
if you arrange your straw bale garden before winter, you’ll be all set
to plant when spring arrives.
Before setting up bales, lay down weed mat, or your favourite weed
suppressant, to prevent weeds from growing up through the bales.
Arrange them side by side in rows, with cut sides up. The strings that
bind the bales should run across the sides, not across planting surface
– they’ll keep the shape of bales as they soften and decompose.
You’ll need to get your bales cooking a few weeks before planting.
This means wetting and fertilising bales for around 10 days to start
the inner straw composting. For the first six days, put down three
cups of organic fertiliser per bale every other day, and water bales to
filter fertiliser down, thoroughly saturating straw – on off days, just
water. Days seven to nine, lay down 1.5 cups of organic fertiliser each
day and water. Day ten put down three cups with phosphorous and
potassium (bone or fish meal mixed with 50% wood ash works really
well). If you put your finger inside a bale, it’ll be hot and moist, and
you may see some ‘peppering’– black soil-like clumps that signal the
beginning of composting. If mushrooms sprout, rejoice, they won’t
harm your plants – it means straw is decomposing as it should.
A great thing about straw bale gardening is that it combines the best
of container gardening with vertical gardening. Erect tall posts at the
end of each row and run wire between them at intervals of ten inches
from the top of bales – as seeds sprout you can use bottom wire to
drape frost cloth or plastic tarp to create an instant greenhouse for
those chilly early-season nights. As plants grow, the wire works like a
vertical trellis, supporting your cucumbers, squash and assorted vine
vegetables.
If you’re planting
seedlings, use your trowel to
make a hole in straw then add
planting mix to help cover
exposed roots. If planting
seeds, then cover bale with
a one to two inch layer of
planting mix and sow this
into the seedbed - as seeds
germinate, they’ll grow
roots down into the bale. By
laying a soaker hose over the
bales you’ll pretty much eliminate all work until
harvest time.
Your bales will be soft, saggy and grey after
harvest – but that’s exactly what you want. Pile
straw together, leave to compost over winter and
you’ll have a mound of beautiful compost to fill
your pots and containers in the spring.
Tomatoes are an all-time summer favourite, and standing in your
garden tasting a fully ripe, sun-warmed fruit is one of the rich rewards of
growing your own.
However, they can be a challenging crop, and unless you have a
glasshouse it’s best to delay planting out seedlings until soil warms up
– late October, or after our traditional tomato planting holiday, Labour
Weekend. Plants should be in by the end of November to give them a
long growing season.
If you’re starting with seed, it gives you the widest choice of varieties,
sow in loose, well-drained compost - it germinates readily.
If you don’t have time, or don’t want to start with seed, you can buy in
seedlings. Sometimes slightly older potted plants are also available. Try
to handle seedlings as little as possible – be careful not to hold them by
the stems as they are easily damaged.
Choose a warm, sunny spot and space smaller bush varieties 40 cm
apart, and vine types at least 60cm apart, in well-drained soil. Dig in well
rotted compost beforehand, and give dried blood and bone or potash.
Regularly applying liquid seaweed fertiliser or a commercially prepared
liquid tomato food is a good way to ensure they get what they need – but
don’t overfeed or you’ll encourage leafy growth at the expense of fruit.
Provide some shelter from wind (but good air circulation) and a regular
watering programme.
Untrained tomato plants have smaller fruit, so it’s a good idea to put
in bamboo stakes when planting – they’ll be there to offer support when
fruit develops. Encourage fruit formation rather than leaf growth by
removing laterals (the side shoots from the main stem) as they start to
form. You can do this at least once a week.
Tomatoes take 60-85 days from seed-sowing to harvest depending on
variety and weather (tomatoes are highly sensitive to cold weather and
fungal diseases). You can begin picking fruit when it starts turning red
– placed in a sunny spot it will fully ripen, but tomatoes ripened on the
plant are the sweetest.
Planting basil beside your tomatoes is said to improve their health and
flavour, and also helps to repel flies, thrips, and mosquitoes.
There is a huge variety of tomatoes to choose from - large fleshy
types, such as ‘Grosse Lisse’ and ‘Beefsteak’, have lots of flavour
and are great in a summer sandwich, or fried on the barbecue.
The vigorous cherry tomato, ‘Sweet 100’, is tangy and delicious,
and still one of the best to
grow. ‘Sweet Petite’, a bite-
sized, slightly lower acid, pear-
shaped tomato, and ‘Gardeners
Delight’, which produces
abundant, smallish, very
flavoursome, sweet tomatoes,
are also good.
You can also find all fruit
types represented in heirloom
tomatoes - like the sweet-
tasting ‘Amish Paste,’ a heart-
shaped fruit with few seeds,
and ‘Principe Borghese,’ an
old, small Italian variety with
an intense flavour. Although
they may not produce such
large yields or as perfect fruits,
heirloom tomatoes are often
tastier and their diversity is fun
to explore.

By VIVIENNE BAILEY
viv.bailey@xtra.co.nz
Flower garden
By MARGARET ANDREWS
Waitohu School’s Wet Rock
group helped out down at the
Waitohu Stream Care Group’s
nursery, potting and carrying out
plant maintenance and planting
on the beach front, two weeks
ago. The year five and six students
from room three, spent the
morning trimming and pruning
cabbage trees, toi toi and manuka
at the Waitohu Stream restoration
reserve, then learnt about potting
seedlings and plant maintenance,
before venturing out to the beach
and planting windsand grass on
the front dunes.
“We each had three windsand
plants to put in,” 10 year old
Stevie Willers. “We had to plant
them in the hollows and keep
them close together and then put
driftwood stakes around them to
protect them.”
During the course of the
morning about nearly 200 young
plants and 11 different varieties
were potted and planted during
the morning.
The young windsand plants
looked like “any old weed grass”
but as they mature the very hardy
grass has a bronzy tinge to the
grass spears and during summer
are smothered in feathery hazy
pink flowers; hence the necessity
to put protective stakes around
them, until they grow bigger.
“We’re supporting what they’re
doing and giving them hands on
skills,” said Frances Tull, from the
Waitohu Stream Care Group.
The Waitohu School Wet Rock
students have begun a 10 year
project, restoring the central
reaches of the Waitohu Stream
with planting and fencing.
• Chrysanthemums and dahlias can be planted
this month.
• Plant summer flowering annual seedlings
such as cosmos, petunias, lobelia, impatiens,
marigolds, phlox, verbena, larkspur, alyssum,
portulaca and heaps more!
• Sow seeds of flowering annuals directly into
the garden – alyssum, Californian poppy,
marigolds, cosmos, nasturtium and sunflowers.
• Sow in trays for transplanting later –
carnations, dahlia, livingstone daisy, petunia,
salvia, gerberas, celosia, phlox and geranium.
• Take tip cuttings of shrubs such as forsythia,
hydrangea, spirea, pyracantha and weigela
while their growth is fresh and healthy, and use
to fill garden gaps.
• Trim Californian lilacs (ceanothus) after
flowering with shears or secateurs. Take care
though – if you cut back into bare wood, they’ll
never forgive you!
• Plant water lilies, or divide established clumps
as they start into growth.
• Divide primulas and polyanthus after flowering,
planting them in a shady place under a hedge
until they are ready for planting out again in
autumn.
• Plant new seasons hibiscus plants.
• Once your narcissus foliage has withered,
lift and divide congested clumps, and feed
others with high potash fertiliser to encourage
flowering next year.
Fruit and vegetable garden
• Once grapes have set fruit, shorten fruiting
shoots to four leaves beyond each bunch.
Non-fruiting shoots should be shortened to
about 40cm or cut out entirely, and the main
rods tipped as soon as they reach the end of
supports.
• Hang codlin moth traps in apple and pear trees
to trap moths, and prevent larvae entering your
fruit. One trap is usually enough for five trees.
• Continue feeding citrus with fertiliser.
• Most warm weather vegetables can be planted
now – tomatoes, cucumber, capsicums,
eggplant, lettuce, sweetcorn, gherkins, spinach,
spring onions, beetroot, celery and cabbage.
• Sow seeds directly into garden – beans, peas,
pumpkin, courgettes, carrots, beetroot, parsnip,
radish and sweetcorn.
• Sow in trays for transplanting later – lettuce,
cabbage, capsicum, eggplant, leeks and spring
onions. For continuous harvesting of lettuce,
beans and sweetcorn, make sowings at three
weekly intervals.
• Plant out main crop potatoes.
• Keep onions well weeded and water if
necessary (dry onions may be attacked by
thrips).
Lawns
• There’s still time to feed your lawn with a high-
nitrogen fertiliser. Apply when rain is due or
water in.
• Raise your lawnmower blades – longer grass
discourages weeds.
Second thoughts
• Keep an eye on baby and new plants – pinch
out tip growth of any looking leggy and guard
against drought stress – all it takes to dry out
upper layers of the soil (where their roots are)
is a few late spring days with some wind.
Wet Rock Group potted and
planted down at the beach
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Little
Greenie
open
home
Electric
rubbish
truck
formally
accepted
BEFORE
AFTER
Ōtaki residents may have
already seen New Zealand’s
first electric rubbish truck
picking up waste from public
bins around the community.
The electric truck is now officially part of
Council’s vehicle fleet. It had to pass 32
mechanical, electrical, software and on-
road acceptance tests before it was formally
accepted. These tests were overseen by
independent experts to ensure the truck met
the required standards.
“We used it on what would be its regular
routes around the district during this testing
phase to see how it operated and identify
where any improvements were required,” says
Council’s Energy Advisor Jake Roos.
The truck was also tested on a ‘rolling road’
at Ōtaki’s Clean Technology Centre to check
the battery capacity and driven 2,000 trouble-
free kilometres before it was given the seal of
approval to officially start work. It replaces
one of Council’s diesel rubbish trucks which
had reached the end of its useful life.
The electric truck, the first of its kind in the
southern hemisphere, is cheaper to run and
maintain than diesel trucks. It also produces
less noise, fewer carbon dioxide emissions
and absolutely no air pollution. The cost
savings on fuel and maintenance outweigh the
additional cost of purchasing the vehicle over
its life time.
IN BRIEF
Election results
Penny Gaylor remains the Ōtaki Ward Councillor.
The Ōtaki Community Board is James Cootes
(re-elected), Colin Pearce (re-elected), Rob
Kofoed (new) and Christine Papps (new).
Otaki Pool closure
A reminder that Ōtaki Pool is closed for repair
work until 17 December.
Ōtaki residents can swim free at the Aquatic
Centre and, from 2 November, at Waikanae Pool
by showing a voucher or proof of residency with
ID.
Transfer station closure
Ōtaki Transfer Station will be closed on 1 and 2
December due to a new operator taking over the
site. Ōtaki residents and commercial collectors
can take their waste to the Otaihanga Transfer
Station on those days if necessary.
Otaki
-
October 28, 2013
If you’ve ever wondered what
one of the country’s most
energy efficient homes looks
like, take yourself to Ōtaki’s
Clean Technology Centre on
Saturday 9 November and see
for yourself.
The 3-bedroom ‘Little Greenie’ house is being
built as part of a national training course for
apprentice carpenters. The course is being run
in association with WELTEC, supported by
Council and located at the Clean Tech Centre off
River Bank Road.
The course, in its first year, aims to increase
public awareness of the benefits of sustainable
housing, up-skill new and existing trades people
in sustainable building techniques and construct
community and civic dwellings.
The display home is open between 10am and
3pm and there will be demonstrations of its air
tightness and efficiency. Everyone is welcome
from potential homeowners to architects,
designers and builders.
Arts Trail coming soon
A monthly newsletter
from your local council
Ceramic sculptures by Paula
Archibald
Whether you’re an art enthusiast or have never looked at a
painting in your life, don’t miss the Kāpiti Arts Trail on November
2 and 3.
This is the 13th annual Arts Trail which has
grown to become one of the most significant
cultural events in the district.
If you want to visit Ōtaki artists in their studios,
you can meet Jennifer Turnbull, Olinka Heath,
Bronya Clare, Ernest Papps, Craig Arthur
Watson, Margaret Hunt, Paula Archibald, LA’s
Cowshed Craft Studio, Bee Doughty-Pratt and
Bruce Winter.
More than 30 artists will also be exhibiting and
selling their work at six Art & Artisan Hubs
throughout Ōtaki and Te Horo. These hubs are
located at Trinity Farm, Te Whare Toi, Artscape,
Blue Skies Art Gallery, Backwal Gallery and
Lavender Creek Farm. In addition, Ōtaki Mu-
seum will be hosting a ceramics exhibition.
If you’re keen to go further than Ōtaki, the trail
goes as far south as Paekākāriki via all the towns
in between.
Check out the Kāpiti Arts Trail brochure (avail-
able at libraries, cafés and galleries throughout
the district) to see what artists are participating
and where they’re located.
Alternatively, take it by chance and look for
the orange Kāpiti Arts Trail flags as you drive
around the district!
For more information, go to:
www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/arts-trail

Ross Church was elected mayor by a reasonable margin, with K Gurunathan second, the
incumbent Jenny Rowan third.
Penny Gaylor was elected as our District councillor by a large margin.
The Community Board vote saw the incumbent chair, James Cootes re-elected, together
with Colin Pearce. Newcomers Rob Kofoed and Christine Papps gained the remaining
places, with incumbent Marilyn Stevens failing. Louise Dench failed to gain enough votes.
Kapiti Election ResultsKCDC Mayoral candidates vote count
KCDC Otaki Ward vote count
KCDC Otaki Community Board vote count
By MARGARET ANDREWS
It is 50 years since Waitohu
School opened its doors and
founding principal, Arthur Manz,
was at the celebrations and to help
cut the jubilee cake.
Along with 96 year old Mr Manz
were several of the first teachers and
pupils as well as the original school
board members.
At the opening powhiri – the
kapa haka group led part of
the proceedings, and speeches,
the school musicians and choir
entertained with songs accompanied
by their ukulele and percussion
groups.
“I’m very, very proud to have
been a part of this school,” Mr Manz
said. “But you’ll have to excuse me
if I can’t recognise you! Many of
you are now grandparents!”
He spoke of the first days of the
school with just four classrooms
and a staffroom. On that first day,
February 5 1963, the assembly
with four teachers and 88 pupils,
from primer one to standard six was
held outside. Some of those first
day pupils at the jubilee included
Max Lutz, Ian Carson, Lynn
Walker (McGregor) and Judith
Griffin, along with teacher Noeline
Saunders (Reichenbach) and first
commissioners (Board of Trustees)
Carl Lutz and Ray Moffatt. During
its 50 years the school has had
just four former principals, Arthur
Manz, the late Pat McGrath, Ian
Ballentyne, Bruce Pilkington and
now current principal Maine Curtis
who with Mr Ballentyne was also
present at the jubilee.
There was a jubilee cake, donated
by parent, James Cootes which
some of the children helped to ice.
This was cut by Mr Manz and Mrs
Saunders, Ian Carson and current
teacherAlison Moore, who has been
at the school for 33 years.
Morning tea followed the flag
ceremony and singing of the
National Anthem, then it was the
formal photographs and a jubilee
tree, a copper beech, was blessed
by Reverend Hira Royal and board
member Scott Kyle and planted by
Mr Manz and Max Lutz. The day
ended with a luncheon.
“It’s the most fabulous and
treasured gathering of those who
have lived and loved within the
Waitohu School community,” Mr
Curtis said. “There have been many
moments and many memories,
we’ve enjoyed during our 50th
jubilee celebration.”
During the planning year or
two for leading up to the building
and opening of Waitohu School,
a prospective parent, Thelma
Pike, filmed the progress from the
purchase of the four acre block
of land between Te Manuao and
Waitohu Valley Roads, then being
used to run cattle and sheep, through
to opening day and events during the
first year; all captured on an eight
millimetre camera; this amazing
piece of the school’s history has
been put onto a DVD which will be
available from the school.
By Ann Chapman
The election is now well and truly over and
commentators and letter writers from all over
Kapiti have had their fill over the last few weeks.
I don’t intend to add further to the distress of
those who were defeated or the glory of those
who won. Or for that matter, add to the vitriol
I have witnessed in the last many weeks of the
campaign.
On the local Otaki front, Councillor Penny
Gaylor’s re-election went against the anti-
council flow, the only ward to do so, (although
in Paekakariki, the chair of the community board
was elected unopposed after a resignation of their
councillor). Penny managed, in spite of the swing
against the outgoing councillors, to increase her
majority from 100 at the last election to nearly
700 votes, and won on the first count. Of all the
councillors (ward or districtwide), she received
the highest percentage of support from her
electors.
A major focus of the new council will be in
managing the debate on amalgamation and the
position of Otaki in that greater regional body
with the behemoth from the south – Greater
Wellington Regional Council – pushing for
amalgamation. Penny will do well to ensure
Otaki's position in an enlarged electorate.
I am personally sorry that Jenny Rowan, with
her knowledge and ability will not be there with
her steady hand for that debate. I worked closely
with, as her deputy, for three years and as an
interested onlooker at her council’s bravery over
the last three. It will be no surprise to anyone that
I support Jenny Rowan as a committed politician,
a brave one, one who worked hard in all areas
of the community. What should not be forgotten
were the many achievements of a council which
worked surprising well under her leadership.
Opinion - The Election
Waitohu School's 50th Birthday
Above: "School Photo" - October 2013 Right: Present day pupils Havana Housiaux-Roderique and Gracie Cootes,
both aged eight, talk to 1963 opening day principal, Arthur Manz about school in “his” day. First day teacher, Noeline
Saunders seated at rear.

Kapiti Olive Oil recently won
two silver medals for its current
season’s olive oil blends in the
recent Olives New ZealandAnnual
Awards.
“A ten year unbroken track
record of medal winning oils can
give confidence to consumers that
they are buying a consistently
world class olive oil with it’s
attendant health giving properties
and great taste” says Kapiti
Olive Oil’s Sales Director, Helen
Walshaw.
The five varieties of olive oils
are tasted individually by owners
Helen and David Walshaw, and
then blended into two distinctive
styles of olive oil; one a full and
fruity oil with a lingering peppery
aftertaste and the other a softer
fruity oil with a slight peppery
aftertaste.
The blends are created with the
public’s tastes in mind and to best
utilise the oils produced in any
one year whose quantities and
taste can be variable depending
on the season. It is important
for the public to know that what
is blended is what is available in
the supermarkets or through direct
sales.
To achieve these awards, the
olive oil has to be “certified” as
true extra virgin olive oil. This
means it has to pass a chemical
analysis and blind tasting test
and only then can New Zealand
olive oils use the industry body’s
red “OliveMark” sticker, which
is found on all high quality NZ
olive oils. After “certification”,
and only then, can the olive oils be
entered in the annual awards.
Kapiti Olive Oil Wins More Medals
Men and their SHED
Looking for you older guys, with
a bit of time on your hands, but still
interestedindoingabitofcarpentryor
making things, the Otaki MenzShed
could be the place for you.
The MenzShed is a place for men
to be social, to learn new skills and
hone old ones and have a project
to work on while contributing to
the community and is somewhere
for mainly retired men and some
women, to get together and work
on projects for the community, local
kindergarten or preschool, park
furniture, maybe repairing things for
older persons living alone or even a
project of your own.
“It’s run on the basis of a couple
of days a week,” said organiser
Valdis Plato, Otaki Probus Club
vice president. “Working with other
people brings companionship and
contact with others.”
He anticipates this will be Tuesday
and Thursday mornings, or more
often for those involved in a project.
For many men, retirement means
loss of contact with people they have
worked with, often for many years
and leaves them with empty hours
and how to fill them.
“Some of the things I’d like to
include are mentoring boys and
teens,” Mr Plato said. “Possibly have
those with computer skills helping
others, or have a support means for
assisting others to learn how to look
after themselves as they get older and
working closer with Maori people.”
MenzShedhasbeeninthesouthern
Kapiti reaches for a few years and the
Otaki Probus, a community service
activity of Rotary Clubs; Otaki
Probus has begun a branch here in
Otaki and although they haven’t yet
finalised premises, they already have
namesof18menkeentogettogether.
Wanting more information, contact
Valdis Plato on 063645636 or email:
valdisplato@gmail.com
Annie Blythell's idiosyncratic shop will be closing at Christmas. After seven years of trading, Annie's looking forwad
to a well-earned rest. Otaki will miss this colourful beacon that has adorned Main Street. Doubtless this won't be the
last we see of Annie...
Main Street Emporium Closing
Two charities, the Otaki Health
Shuttle and the Rescue Helicopter
will benefit from a garden tour to
be held on Saturday November 2.
The Otaki Women’s Community
Club is holding a walk through 13
of the best gardens of Otaki with the
additionofplantsandpotteryforsale
with refreshments also available at 7
Sunglo Terrace. (including toilets)
There are three gardens up the
Waitohu Valley on the spectacular
Sunglo Terrace with its stunning
views across the flood plain of the
Otaki township. Nos 63 and 61 are
really worth a visit. Travel along
Freemans Road to 7a for another
interesting garden to admire,
then on to Victoria Gardens at 60
Rahui Road, where little Victorian
perennial dainties will be available
for sale. Other gardens are at
Westpeak Way, 17 Millhaven, 29
Matene Street, Tamihana Street,
Lake Kauwhai Estate, 227 Rangiuru
Road, 72 Atkinson Avenue and 44c
Tasman Road with some wonderful
stone walls.
Tickets with maps attached are
available from Cathie Cole 364
8673, or at the gardens themselves
and cost $10 with a gold coin
donation for refreshments.
Garden Walks
By VIVIENNE BAILEY
Otaki-basedPeterScholtensispassionateaboutToastmasters.The
member of a Wellington club for more than 18 years, he told me the
international organisation has a strong focus on communication and
leadership skills, helping individuals learn to effectively formulate,
organise and express ideas to others.
“I joined in 1995 to improve my speaking technique and
leadership abilities, values I needed in my work environment, where
I was involved with regular in-house training sessions. The clubs
are based on a self-paced, tried and true programme, one designed
to promote personal growth and to create confident speakers.”
People join Toastmasters for a number of reasons said Mr
Scholtens, most staying with the club for two to three year as
“circumstances change.” Reasons for joining include a desire
to lessen a speech impediment, such as stuttering, to enhance
confidence, and also to build up skills in those with English as a
second language.
“There’s a variety of reasons - some join because they’ve been
asked to be best man at a wedding, others because they’ve joined a
committee or a school Board of Trustees.”
Although constantly improving his public speaking, “maintaining
standards” Mr Scholtens said his commitment also involves passing
these skills onto newcomers, in a mentoring role, and “watching
them blossom.”
There is a continual rotation of opportunities within the clubs
- like the regular speech contests - but it’s up to an individual to
decide which direction to take - “to follow your own journey.”
Mr Scholtens has pursued a range of roles within Toastmasters
including Leader of Toastmasters, Wellington, and National
Treasurer, New Zealand, for two years. He has also won (in 2011
and 2012) the New Zealand Toastmaster of the Year, a national
award for outstanding contribution to the organisation.
“The award is about actively performing within the organisation,
being involved in competitions, contests and on committees.”
As well as the forty clubs within the Wellington district, clubs
are also based in Levin and Waikanae, where they provide great
networking opportunities for members, combined with a cost-
effective personal development programme.
ForfurtherinformationaboutToastmasterscontact0800PEOPLE
(0800 736 753) or Peter Scholtens 0275 674 peter.scholtens@xtra.
co.nz
Levin Toastmasters meet at the Red Cross Rooms, Queen Street
East, Levin, contact 06 368 1720 or 06 367 2580. The Waikanae
club meets at the Waikanae War Memorial Hall, Pehi Kupa Street,
Waikanae, contact Peter Ropata 06 364 47558.
A passion for
communication and
leadership
Bernadine Bloemgarten of the Transition Towns group is
enthusiastic about their Thursday market. "The more we have, the
lower the price" she said.The weekly market outside the Memorial
Hall sells produce from everyone's garden, starting at 11 o'clock.
Everyone is welcome to bring along their surplus produce at
10.30. It's a non-profit venture, with growers getting 80% of the
price which is negotiated by discussion with the enthusiastic
volunteers. The remaining 20% is donated to worthy local causes:
Citizens Advice Bureau, Wellington Free Ambulance and Otaki
Health Shuttle.
Produce is seasonal: today there was an abundance of citrus, in
all shapes and sizes. Free range eggs were plentiful. At 11 o'clock
the stall is swarming with local shoppers keen for bargains of
fresh locally-grown produce. By midday it's all gone.
Produce Market Back
for the Summer

Ōtaki College News
30 October 2013 www.otakicollege.school.nz
Principal’s Spot
ERO
The Education Review Office (ERO)
have just completed their review of the
College. Having them at this time is very
helpful as they provide an external lens
to look at what we have been doing to
getthebestlearningandsocialoutcomes
for our students. We can report that the
Reviewers were very impressed with
the College and the students. The final
Review Report will be available on the
EROwebsite(www.ero.govt.nz)forpublic
viewing early in 2014.
EROwereparticularlyimpressedwiththe
relationships between staff and students
and how this has been fostered through
the Restorative Practices and PB4L
initiatives in the College. They were also
complimentary about the way curriculum
has been developed in the College and
the how teaching and learning takes
place. Having such a positive ERO
Review is an affirmation that the College
is certainly heading in the right direction
with lots of great stuff going on to allow
students to “strive to be the best that
they can be”
Karen Boyes:
Teaching students how to
study
Karen is an internationally acclaimed
speaker and educator. She came to the
College on Wednesday 23rd October
and worked with year 9 to 13 students
on study skills and examination skills (for
seniors).Thefeedbackfromstudentshas
been very positive and many are now
tryingtoutilisetheskillstheylearntintheir
studyleadingintoexternalexaminations.
These sessions were followed up with
verysuccessfulworkshopswithstaffand
parentsfocusingonhowstudentscanbe
taught and supported to study and learn.
We are looking at ways to fund Karen
back early in 2014 to run workshops with
students. We are also considering how to
best utilise her study resource to support
students to build their confidence and
proficiency in reviewing and studying the
work they do in their classes.
Kapa Haka
There has been a desire amongst students
and whanau to re-build Kapa Haka in the
College.InanefforttofulfilthiswishIwantto
thankMatuaRickiBakerandWhaeaDestine
Kuku-Heaetawhohavebeenworkingwitha
Year7to9group.Thisgroupwillhaveitsfirst
performanceatTakirioTeAtaKapitiSchools
Kapa Haka Festival.
Numbers still continue to grow with the
Wednesday night Kapa Haka group which
is being tutored by Anahere Miritana. This
commences at 6pm to 7pm every second
Wednesdayandthingsarelookingverygood
for this roopu as they develop.
Staff
Deputy Principal position: Interviews for
this position will take place on 8th and 9th
of November. Once this appointment has
been finalised we will have our confirmed
Senior Leadership Team going into 2014.
The structure of the team moving forward
will be a Principal and two Deputy Principals
withtheabilitytopullinkeystaffasrequired.
Attheendofweek4wewilllosetheservices
of Lindsay Moore who has been teaching
in the Digital Technology and Technology
Departments this year. Lindsay has made
a big contribution to the college and the
students during his short time here. He will
be missed but he is moving on to Upper
HuttCollege asHead ofTechnologyandwill
be closer to Masterton where has wife has
recently been appointed to a Principalship.
We wish Lindsay all the very best and want
to thank him for his contribution to Otaki
College.
The College hall was filled with students beating over 200 drums following the lead of the award winning drummers from
Rhythm Interactive.The drumming onAfrican styled hand drums was both energising and enjoyable for the students who
took part in either the senior or junior session. The theme was “Actions speak louder than words” and the lead drummer
John Boon's instructions were unspoken, requiring students to watch and follow to get the beat. And get the beat they
did, the hall was pumping.
Rhythm Interactive
I’m very grateful to have been
re-elected to the Kapiti Coast
District Council as the Otaki Ward
Councillor. Thank you.
My heartfelt thanks for the sup-
port which saw me returned to
Council, and with an increased
majority.
I pledge to keep working hard
to champion the issues facing our
community, with a continued focus
on economic development for our
local economy, environmental sus-
tainability, and youth issues.
Particular issues that I intend
championing are; public transport
connectivity for Otaki (bus servic-
es, saving the Capital Connection,
and for the longer term the funding
of the extension of rail electrifica-
tion through to Otaki), Ultra-Fast
Broadband in Otaki, Council’s
Youth Employment and Training
project in Otaki, and safeguarding
our environmental restoration and
sustainability projects.
It’s been a tough month for
Capital Connection users with
KiwiRail’s announcement of the
latest price hike to the service, 10%
for travellers north of Waikanae
from 1 November.That’s a 10% in-
crease following on from 5% just a
few months ago.
This train service runs from
Palmerston North, through
Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast,
Monday to Friday, taking workers
and students in toWellington’s cen-
tral business district.
There has been a huge effort to
save this service driven by the com-
muters using the train. Government
doesn’t seem to be listening to our
community.
The train received a reprieve, but
only through till 2015. Oh, so, just
a few months after the next general
election, interesting.
KiwiRail promised commuters a
marketing campaign to boost user
numbers. But putting some arty
posters inside the carriages misses
the point that these commuters are
already using the train, when in
fact they should be pitching to non-
users who could be swayed by the
benefits of a reliable, safe, comfort-
able, work-friendly and a previ-
ously affordable service.
This service is part of the pub-
lic transport network, government
should acknowledge that, and ap-
propriately subsidise it. No public
transport service in New Zealand
is starved of public funding to sus-
tain it, except that is, the Capital
Connection here in provincial New
Zealand.
It’s the government agency
NZTA that should be providing the
subsidy.
So what is Government’s mo-
tive for abandoning this provincial
piece of the public transport net-
work? Perhaps there’s no motive,
perhaps they just don’t care?
Government has chosen to spend
a billion dollars on expressways
through our district, but they can’t
cough up $350,000 a year on a
long-serving public transport ser-
vice that people depend on to get to
jobs and education.
This attitude is neither supportive
of our local economy or environ-
mental sustainability, nor is it future
focused for our younger residents.
Penny Gaylor
Kapiti Coast Councillor
The patron saint of animals,
St Francis of Assisi was
acknowledged at the annual pet
Blessing Service at St Margaret’s
Church in Te Horo at the beginning
of October.
With all the songs and hymns
based on animals, farm dog
Lu joined in all the songs with
woofs of delight, she seemed to
know everyone. But for Franny
the young cavalier her first visit
to the pet service was almost too
much and she stayed in her basket
under the pew for most of the
service and Ben the beagle had
a “nosey” round to see what was
going on. The other three dogs,
veteran of many years, Rosie the
golden retriever and second time
visitor 13 year old Lucy the retired
rescue Labrador, took the service
in their stride, joining in with an
occasional woof.
Each dog was accompanied by
its owner and during the service
Reverend Ian Campbell gave each
its own special blessing, during the
Eucharist and no, the dogs didn’t
get to share the bread or wine.
Public transport
connectivity for Otaki
Annual Pet Blessing
Service at St Margaret’s

From the Otaki Mail Monday October 29, 1923
Otaki’s History
Rooms available for hire at reasonable rates
• Free, Confidential Service
• Legal & Employment Issues
• Benefit Entitlements
• Consumer Rights
• Housing
• Human Rights
• Health
• Personal Problems
• Neighbourhood issues
• Transport issues
Health Shuttle bookings - Tel: 364 5603
Free 20-minute legal appointment
JP available by arrangement
Hearing clinic pre-arranged appointments
Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 3.00 pm
65a Main Street, Otaki Village
(next to the swing park by the Memorial Hall)
Tel 06 364 8664 or 0800 367 222
Email cab.otaki@xtra.co.nz www.cab.org.nz
Te Pou Whakawhirinaki o Otaki
Our advice is free and confidential, not getting it could cost you though. If
you know your rights, less can go wrong. If not sure, ask us!
We have the information to help you with your problems, or can point you in
the right direction. Call or see us -
Otaki Historical Society
Otaki Museum
Bridge Collapse
Facebook can be a great way to keep up with what your
friends and acquaintances have been getting up to. While
you’re there, you could get some shopping done too.
If you buy goods or services from someone via
Facebook, then what your consumer rights are pretty
much boils down to whether the seller is considered
a professional trader or not. You’re covered by the
Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act for
goods or services sold by a trader, unless you bid for it in
an auction. If the seller is not a trader then it’s classed
as a private sale, which means you don’t have much
protection.
In general, if someone is selling a lot of items online,
then they are a trader. If you’re not sure about a particular
Facebook seller, check out their Facebook page. If they
seem to sell a lot of similar kinds of items, and have sold
a lot of items in the past, then they are probably a trader
than an individual just having a household clear-out.
There are things you can do to minimise your risk when
considering buying from a private seller, for example if
at all possible try to inspect the item before you hand
over your money; ask the seller a lot of questions about
the item so you know what to expect; look for feedback
from past customers; for the expensive items (like a car)
it would pay to check the Personal Property Securities
Register in case it has been used as security for someone’s
debt.
Also, pay by credit card or, if it’s going to a New
Zealand account, by internet banking rather than by cash
or telegraphic transfer so your payment can be tracked.
Lastly, it makes good sense to get the full name and
address of the seller in case the trade goes pear-shaped
and you need to track them down.
If you have a problem with something you’ve bought
it’s always best to talk to the seller first. But if you haven’t
been able to sort it out by talking to them, come and see
us at your local bureau. We have available information
to assist you with, advocate for you and/or can point you
to the right direction. You could also phone or send us an
email. You may visit our website www.cab.org.nz. for
more information about consumer rights.
Buying Through Facebook
The engineer of the
Horowhenua County Council,
Mr Anderson, with a gang of
twelve men, commenced work
on the reconstruction of the Otaki
suspension bridge yesterday. It
is hoped to rebuild the bridge a
few chains down stream, where
the span is considerably shorter.
Mr Anderson and his men
assisted the settlers to get their
cream across the river by means
of a wire rope.
The cause of the breakage
was the fact that instead of
being embedded in concrete on
the eastern side of the river, the
cables were twisted round two-
inch by two-inch ironbark blocks
buried in the ground, where
naturally the steel cables rusted
and gave way on Saturday night,
thus throwing the whole strain
on the cables on the western
side, which, in turn, gave way
at about midnight on Sunday,
precipitating the whole structure
into the bed of the stream. The
crash of the fall was heard nearly
a mile away.
The bridge was a fine structure
between 150 and 200 feet long,
a single span between the rocky
cliffs, about 75 feet above the
water. It was suspended on
steel cables and was considered
capable of supporting any
reasonable weight. Designed
and built by the late Mr J
Malcolm, the Horowhenua
County engineer, about ten years
ago, at a cost of £1,100, it was
considered a model of efficiency
and economy.
The Waihoanga suspension bridge (opposite Mr H L Beauchamp’s
late property) collapsed yesterday but, luckily, no one was on the
bridge at the time ....
Wednesday October 31 1923
Otaki Bridge -
Cause of collapse
This month we have a man with a camera – perhaps a professional photographer? Does anyone know who this
is, and can anyone suggest a year? If you can help, please ring Jan on 364 7554. You can leave a message.
The next exhibition will be
ceramics by Margaret Hunt, and
will be open from 31 October,
and during the weekend of the
Kapiti Arts Trail, 2-3 November.
The Otaki Museum is at 49 Main
Street, Otaki
The speaker on Tuesday 1
October 2013 was Neale Ames,
President of the Otaki Surf
Life Saving Club. There were
problems at the Rotary Hall
and members were invited by
Neale to adjourn to the Surf
Club rooms at the beach – a very
appropriate venue and one which
was much appreciated. Records
show the first surf club in Otaki
was in 1922 but though there
were several meetings in some
succeeding years including 1939,
they came to nothing and the
outbreak of the Second World
War halted everything. In 1953
William McBeth chair of the
Otaki Commercial Association
Copies available at:
Edhouse’s Store
NZ Post (Otaki)
Otaki Museum
Otaki Info Centre (SH1)
Railway Bookshop (Main St)per
copy$25
called a meeting and a club was
formed. Since then there have
been 60 years of continuous
community service, and 478
rescues, a record to be proud of.
The club began in a small shed
on the beach. Club rooms were
builtbutwererazedbyanarsonist
in July 1987. The people of
Otaki responded to this tragedy
generously, and the current
well-equipped club rooms were
opened in February 1988. Neale
talked about the many families
and individuals who have helped
the club, both with raising
money and performing rescues;
about competitions which are
used to sharpen the rescue skills
of lifeguards; the equipment used
and how it has changed over the
years; the introduction of women
as life guards; and about the work
and needs of the club today. This
was a most enjoyable talk and
well-received by the audience.

Kia ora from the Otaki Public Library – Te Wharepukapuka o Otaki
All the Kāpiti District Libraries have free WiFi available.
Come to Ōtaki Library and enjoy the warm friendly at-
mosphere of this lovely library.Whether you want to
read the latest bestseller, use the internet or just find
a quiet spot to read, the Ōtaki library is the hub of the
community.Ōtaki library houses the core Māori Collec-
tion for the district, Te Matahīapo, and features a great
selection of resources.
Clinic Hours:
Mon - Fri 8.30 - 5.00 pm
Tuesday 8.30 - 6.00 pm
Saturday 9 - 12 noon
269 Mill Road, Otaki
06 364 6941
www.otakivetcentre.com
otakivet@ihug.co.nz
Angela Ford BVM&S MRCVS MACVSc
Sue Blaikie BVSc
Donna, Shiree and Emma - Veterinary Nurses
Otaki Veterinary Centre
Mobile Vet service - we come to you
24 Hrs advice and emergency service - Ring 364 6941
Microchips scanned at no cost and replaced for free if required
Angela Ford
BVM&S MRCVS MACVSc
Otaki Veterinary Centre
WithGuyFawkesjustaroundthecorner,many
dog owners will be worrying about their dogs,
especially if they are fearful of fireworks.
It is common for dogs to show signs of anxiety
during thunderstorms or firework displays.
Cowering, trembling, hiding in corners or
under the bed, and inappropriate toileting
are all anxiety behaviours. The booming
and flashes of rockets can turn our otherwise
staunch canines turn into cowardly muts.
Have fun at Guy Fawkes and be safe.
Angela J Ford,
BVM&S, MRCVS, MANZCVS
Fireworks Phobia
Here are some recommendations that may help.
• Keep your dog safe & secure inside
• Use DAP spray – this is a calming pheromone secreted from the sebaceous glands
around the teats of the lactating mother dog. DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone)
provides reassurance to the suckling puppies and to adult dogs especially in times of
stress. It can be sprayed onto a bandana collar, or onto a cloth wrapped around the
collar, a day or so prior to the fireworks and during the event.
• Use music as a distraction (but not Country & Western!)
• Invite a dog around that isn’t scared. Socialising with a non-fearful dog may help.
• Don’t fuss or reassure your dog if it shows fear – this rewards the behaviour
• Sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs are available but need to be given prior the event,
and also have variable results and side effects. They are best avoided if possible.
Longbourn
By Jo Baker
If Elizabeth Bennet had the washing
of her own petticoats, Sarah thought,
she would be more careful not to
trudge through muddy fields.
It is wash-day for the housemaids
at Longbourn House, and Sarah's
hands are chapped and bleeding.
Domestic life below stairs, ruled
tenderly and forcefully by Mrs Hill
the housekeeper, is about to be
disturbed by the arrival of a new
footman smelling of the sea, and
bearing secrets.
For in Georgian England, there
is a world the young ladies in the
drawing room will never know, a
world of poverty, love, and brutal
war.
Dexter’s Final Cut
by Jeff Lindsay
Hollywood gets more than it bargained
forwhentelevision'shotteststararrives
at the Miami Police Department and
develops an intense, professional
interest in a camera-shy blood spatter
analyst named Dexter Morgan.
Mega-star Robert Chase is famous for
losing himself in his characters.
When he andagroupof actors descend
on the Miami Police Department for
'research', Chase becomes fixated
on Dexter Morgan, the blood spatter
analyst with a sweet tooth for
doughnuts and a seemingly average
life.
To perfect his role, Chase is obsessed
with shadowing Dexter's every move
and learning what really makes him
tick. There is just one tiny problem
. . . Dexter's favorite hobby involves
hunting down the worst killers to
escape legal justice, and introducing
them to his special brand of playtime.
It'sasecretbestkeptoutofthespotlight
and away from the prying eyes of
bloated Hollywood egos if Dexter
wants to stay out of the electric chair.
The last thing he needs is bright lights
and the paparazzi . . . but even Dexter
isn't immune to the call of fame.
Just One Evil Act
By Elizabeth George
Barbara Havers puts her career on
the line while DI Thomas Lynley
attempts to straighten her out before
it's too late.
When Hadiyyah Upman disappears
from London in the company of her
mother, Detective Sergeant Barbara
Havers is as devastated as the girl's
father. They are her close friends
as well as neighbours, but since the
child is with her mother, nothing can
be done. Five months later,
Hadiyyah is kidnapped from an open
air market in Lucca, Italy, and this
triggers an investigation in the full
glareofthemediaspotlight.Barbara's
clever manipulation of the worst
of London's tabloids forces New
Scotland Yard to become involved.
But rather than Barbara herself, her
superior officer DI Thomas Lynley is
assigned to handle a situation made
delicate by racial issues, language
difficulties, and the determination
of an Italian magistrate to arrest and
convict someone - anyone - for the
crime.
Possession
By J.R. Ward
A novel of the Fallen Angels - When
Cait Douglass resolves to get over her
broken heart, throw off her inhibitions,
andstartreallyliving,she’sunprepared
for the two sensual men who cross her
path.
Torn between them, she doesn’t
know which to choose--or what kind
of dire consequences could follow.
Jim Heron, fallen angel and reluctant
savior, is ahead in the war, but he puts
everything at risk when he seeks to
make a deal with the devil--literally.
As yet another soul is unwittingly
caught in the battle between him and
the demon Devina.
His fixation on an innocent trapped in
Hell threatens to sidetrack him from
his sacred duty...

Appiance Repairs
Appliance Rescue 364 3098
Automotive
All Things Automotive 364 8158
Central Auto Services 368 2037
Colling & Gray 364 7495
SRS Automotive Engineering 364 3322
Auto Tyres
All Things Automotive 364 8158
Beauty Services
YouBeauty 364 7003
Builder
Leith Ellis 364 3456
Carpet Cleaning
Bloxham Superclean 364 6777
Cleaning
Hire a Buddy 04 902 5476
Chimney Cleaning
Bloxham Superclean 364 6777
Concrete Work
Craig Howell 364 6064
Bevan Concrete 0800 427522
Contractors
Rasmac Contractors 0274 443 041
Electrical
DSR Electrical 027 511 4746
Hartley Electrical Ltd 364 2070
Firewood
Wood Splitter 027 447 3371
Funeral Directors
Harvey Bowler 368 2954
I.C. Mark Ltd 368 8108
Kapiti Coast Funeral Home 04 298 5168
Waikanae Funeral Home 04 293 6844
Garden Plants
100 & 1 Garden & House Plants - Aotiki St
Kapiti Coast District Council
General Inquiries 04 296 4700
Toll Free 0800 486 486
Otaki Library 364 9317
Otaki Swimming Pool 364 5542
Lawnmowers
Mr Green 04 293 8742
The Lawn Moa Company 364 6771
Lawyer
McLaren’s Law Office 364 7190
Simpson & Co 364 7285
Locksmith
Mobile Locksmith 021 073 5955
Pest Control
Protekt Pest Control 364 5759
Pet Stays
Jacaranda Country Lodge 362 6900
Plumber
Henderson Plumbing 364 5252
Ryan Plumbing & Gas fitting 027 243 6451
About Plumbing 364 5586
Roofer
Ryan Roofing 027 243 6451 362 6595
JS ROOFING 06 364 6406
Taxi
Paraparaumu Taxis 364 0500
Kapiti Shuttles 04 902 5476
Tool Sharpening
Mower & Engineering 364 5411
Truck Maintenance
Otaki Truck Services Ltd 364 0160
Veterinary Services
Otaki Veterinary Centre 364 6941
Otaki Animal Health 364 7089
Window & Door Repairs
Mike Watson 364 8886
3 Arthur Sreet, Otaki 06 364 7495
COLLING & GRAYOtaki
Panelbeaters & Spray Painters
• Spray Booth
• Chassis Machine
• Chassis Straightening
• Rust Repair
• Crash Repair
• Plastic Welding
• 24 hour Towing & Salvage
• All Insurance Work
• Farm Equipment Repaired
• Competitive Prices
Talk to us about your automotive, marine, cabinet colour
and furniture paint work.
Handy Folk to Know
MAIN ROAD SOUTH, LEVIN
K.S. McFadyen & I.J. Buckley Ltd
FULL DIESEL REPAIRS &
MAINTENANCE
All C.O.F. Work
Transport & General Engineering
Tel: 06/368 2037 or
06/368 1591 (24hrs)
CENTRAL
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICES
PARAPARAUMU TAXIS
364 0500
FreePhone 0800 508 294
Extended Otaki Coverage Hours
Tuesday - Friday 9.30am - 3.30pm
Kapiti Coast’s PREMIER Taxi Service
COURTESY & CARE
EFTPOS Total Mobility & Snapper Cards Accepted
• Earthmoving / Aggregate
• Drainage Site Works / Section Clearing
• Drive Ways Excavation / Tarseal / Hot Mix
• Top Soil / Farm Roads
Phone: 0274 443 041
or 0274 401 738
CARPET CLEANING
Ph: 06 364 6777
Roger Bloxham
ACCI Trained Servicing Otaki-Levin area
BLOXHAM
Quality Cleaning comes from:
• 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
• QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN
• LATEST AMERICAN EQUIPMENT
• MOST STAINS REMOVED
• WOFs and LUBES
• Light Engineering & Welding
• Lifestyle Tractor & Equipment Repairs
• Classic Car Repairs
Automotive & Engineering
NZHRA approved engineer
Qualified Diesel Mechanic
38 years experience
Barry Sutton
364 3322
34 Sutton Rd, Te Horo
027 556 9255
Proudly Printed by
GUARDIANPRINT
2 Kermode Street, Ashburton
The Otaki Mail
ISSN 1170-7445 (Print)
ISSN 2324-2094 (Online)
is published by
Saffron Graphics Ltd
20 Nov 13 27 Nov 13
11 Dec 13 18 Dec 13
Deadline Day Print Day
Web: www.otakimail.co.nz
Email: otakimail@xtra.co.nz
PO Box 109, Otaki
Editor: Wendy Bailey
Tel: 364 5500
Mob: 021 364 550
For all Kerbing, Paving, Floors, Drives
Paths and Concrete Work
FREE QUOTES
Phone Craig Howell
027 448 0447 * After hours: 06 364 6064
Luke
Miller
OWNER/OPERATOR
LAWNS & SECTION MAINTENANCE
PHONE: 04 293 8742
MOBILE: 020 401 63 555
WEB: www.mrgreen.co.nz
Hartley Electrical
Contracting Ltd
Otaki
For all Electrical Requirements
Domestic
Master Electrician
Sign and Display Manufactures
Commercial
Industrial
Mobile: 021 418 751
After hours: 06 364 2070
Email: jillianhartley@xtra.co.nz
The Lawn Moa Company
For all your lawn mowing, weed spraying and hedge trimming needs
Local, friendly and reliable service!
For a free quote please contact:
David Nokes
06 364 6771 or 027 332 6507
Justin Will
Ph: 027 467 2063
A/Hrs: 06 364 5586
Email: aboutgas@gmail.com
Springtime – Mulch! Mulch! Mulch!
• Pine Mulch (Barkie)
• Bark Mulch (Crickle Bark)
• Mega Mulch – 4 Bags $28 40 Litre Bag
Mushroom Compost – 5 Bags $30 20 Litre Bag
• Organic Lawn Mix • Organic Vege Mix
• Organic Garden Mix
40 Litre Bag – $10.50 each
Organic Compost x 4 Bags – $28
100% Weed Free We Deliver!
COASTAL LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES WAIKANAE
13 Omahi Street • Phone (04) 293 6621
www.coastallandscapesupplies.co.nz
5303978AA
Window & Door Repairs
I fix all Doors, Windows
& Conservatories
Call Mike Watson
Free 0800 620 720
or Otaki 364 8886
Find me at: www.windowseal.co.nz
Or like at: facebook.com/windowseal
Locks * Rollers
Handles * Stays
Glass * Leaks
Draughts * Seals
SAVE
$$$$

A Straw Bale Garden ~ Otaki, New Zealand

A Straw Bale Garden ~ Otaki, New Zealand

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A Straw Bale Garden ~ Otaki, New Zealand