Blueskin Bay FM 88.2: February 2010

28 February 2010

Lifesavers evacuate Warrington Beach, Domain

by 'Blueskin News' editors

Members of Warrington Surf Life Saving Club evacuated Warrington beach
and the adjacent camping area on Warrington Domain after hearing a
tsunami alert for coastal New Zealand. The life guards, lacking any
legal status, used powers of persuasion to encourage people to leave.

The beach was cleared by 8.30am on Sunday and the last campers had
left the domain by 9am.

Life guards have declared a 'no swimming' status for the day and the
normal surf patrol scheduled between 12 noon and 5pm has been
re-rostered to patrol the entrances to the beach area for the entire
day.

A large crowd of sightseers, including several visiting German
high-school pupils staying at a local school camp, had gathered at
high points along Warrington's Esplanade to watch for waves arriving
at the beach.

Two walkers who went on to on the beach with a dog after ignoring
warnings about 9am were spoken to by the Police and returned to high
ground.

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Ā ā Ē ē Ī ī Ō ō Ū ū
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Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
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If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

26 February 2010

Next wave of dance at Puketeraki Marae

By Antony Deaker

Puketeraki Marae in Karitane hosts a short season of contemporary
dance this month as part of the Dunedin Fringe Festival. Runaka
Manager Suzanne Ellison says "Te Ngaru Hou will be a unique experience
that shouldn't be missed, it's not often that people in the North
Coast communities get to see world class contemporary dance so close
to home."

Three indigenous dancers from New Zealand and Australia will present
short performances with film and music on the marae grounds and inside
the whare. The audience to each night's performance will be welcomed
on to the Marae with a powhiri. Suzanne Ellison says, "we hope that as
many local people as possible can join us and that for many this will
be a fun way to come to our beautiful marae." The shows will be on
Friday 26th and Saturday 27th nights from 7pm and Sunday 28th
afternoon from 2pm.

Te Ngaru Hou, which means The Next Wave, will feature Vicki Van Hout a
leading aboriginal contemporary dancer and choreographer based in
Sydney, Louise Potiki-Bryant who is Kai Tahu and based in Auckland and
Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann also from Kai Tahu and currently based in
Auckland. Both Louise and Rachel are well known in Dunedin for their
exciting work blending installation, film and music with contemporary
dance.

Tickets for Te Ngaru Hou will be available from the Runaka Office in
Grimness Street Karitane, 465 7300 or from Artist Development Agency
at 110 Moray Place in town from March 15th. $8 or $20 for family
groups.

25 February 2010

Blueskin Bay radio news for Friday Feb 26

Puketapu Radio presents Blueskin Bay local news in association with blueskin.co.nz

March is gearing up to be an exceedingly busy month in Blueskin Bay.

Walk to work week with the commuter train is just over two weeks away, on Wednesday March 10. This is an opportunity to show that North Coast wants to see the commuter train reinstated by taking the train to work and back. No bookings are required, and it costs just $5 each way. There will also be a bike compartment available. The train departs Waitati at 7.40am, arriving Dunedin at 8.40. The return trip leaves at 5.30pm, arriving at 6.30pm.

Also coming up in the next few weeks is the annual Blueskin Bay Country Fair & Clearing Sale. This will be held at Bland Park on Saturday March 20. Many local organisations, including Warrington School, have fundraising stalls with a large variety of local groups also selling their wares. Food is also a popular feature at the Clearing Sale, and this year will be no exception. There will also be plenty of free entertainment for children.

A turbine field trip is planned for members of Waitati Energy Project and others interested in power supply issues. This will be held on Saturday March 13. Organiser, Scott Willis, says this will be a fun day out to see Pioneer Generation's three turbines at Horseshoe Bend near Roxburgh. To take part, contact the WEP office in Waitati.

March 6 is the date set for opening the top tracks of the Ecosanctuary to
self-guided walkers. On that Saturday there will be activities for children,
displays, talks and bird spotting tips. Initially the tracks open to the
public will be limited to the main top track and two short side ones. The
valley track will not open until the upgrade is complete, which is expected to be mid-year.

And finally, it’s movie night again this coming week. Tuesday’s offering is the New Zealand film Apron Strings, the parallel story of two families and two cultures – one Sikh, one Anglo – set in South Auckland. The Waitati Film Society meets on alternate Tuesdays at Bill’s place, Orokonui Rd, at 8pm. New members are welcome.

The Blueskin Bay local volunteer news website can be found at www.blueskin.co.nz.

23 February 2010

WARRINGTON SCHOOL (column) (ADDENDUM)

(addition to Warrington School column)

This year we will be running a number of stalls and activities at
the Blueskin Bay Country Fair & Clearing Sale to be held on
Saturday 20th March. The full proceeds raised by us from this event
will be used for a major playground refurbishment.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could support us - some
possible ways to do this are:

- Contributing products or vouchers for our chocolate wheel (raffle)

- Providing items for one of our stalls: books, music cds, baked
goods, produce, preserves etc

- Monetary contribution to help with the hiring cost of items such as
a bouncy castle, candyfloss machine etc

Donations can be dropped off at the school office at any time. The
fresh baking and produce should be dropped off on Friday 19th March
(between 9am - 3pm). If you prefer please call us in advance to
arrange collection.

To discuss ways in which you can help, please contact Dawn Hope at
home on 482-2787. Alternatively you can contact the school on 482-2605
or email: office@warrington.school.nz.

WAITATI SCHOOL (column)

WAITATI SCHOOL

by Jenna Packer

What's with the barricades? Passers-by would have noticed the large
construction in progress at the main entrance to Waitati School. This is
actually the first step in a project by carver Alex Whitiker to create a
beautiful waharoa, entranceway to the school grounds. The children are
thrilled to be involved in working with a real artist. They will be learning
about whakairo (traditional carving) design first hand, as well as
contributing themselves to this significant symbol of welcome. This is a
wonderful gift to the pupils and to all of us who visit Waitati school.

The edible garden has been busily producing food while we've been on
holiday. The birds were lucky enough to harvest some of it, but there is
still plently left for the children to use and extra to share. The school
was able to give a lovely box of veges to the Anglican Food Bank. We're
lucky to have such a great growing environment, and occasionally even the
right weather!

On the subject of growing, on the 13 February the School
Garden was on the Weggies Open Orchard walkabout tour, and the following day
a bunch of Weggies returned to do a much-needed summer pruning, general
weeding and garden assistance. Thank you Weggies!

We are bound to be seeing two new(ish) faces in the kitchen garden from
time to time this year. Sue Roberts-Blyth and Munirah Burra are our two new
teachers, joining the dynamic duo, Dave and Jayne Fitzgerald.

Munirah Burra is the New Entrant to Year 2 teacher. Munirah loves
traveling and has lived and taught in the Australian desert! Reading
is one of her favourite
things to do, and her class are finding great descriptive language
inspiration in Roald Dahl's book 'The Twits' at the moment. Some of the
books she has been sharing with the children recently are 'Snif-Snuf-Snap!'
by Lynley Dodd, and Eric Carle's 'Have You Seen My Cat?'

As well as loving reading and gardening, Munirah has a real passion
for ceramics, and has been known to bring her pottery wheel to school
for some really tactile,
hands-on lessons! Her daughter's name is Nadia, and her cats are Asterix and
Obelix. They also have two chooks with big hair named Elvis and Priscilla.
What Munirah loves about Waitati is "the close-knit community, the parental
enthusiasm and input, and also the contributions made by people from the
community , who might not even have children at school here." Oh, and she
loves chilli - the hotter the better!

Sue Roberts-Blyth is sharing the senior class with Dave Fitzgerald
this year. She really enjoys the in depth discussions you can have
with children of this age. Her
class are enjoying 'Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters' by Rick Riordan,
and the Antony Horowitz books are very popular. Sue loves that she's able to
"incorporate care for our environment into our teaching". Having moved back
from Auckland last year, she still hasn't stopped saying how lucky they are
to be living in this part of the country (we like this!) and in a community
which nurtures things like knowing your neighbours, walking and biking
places, gardening, art... don't get her started! Sue's favourite food
is "tomatoes", but she says that next year she'll have to try growing them
in a glasshouse!

We are also looking forward to meeting our 'adopted' scientist and our
engineer: thanks again to University of Otago for lending some great brains
to work with the children on cool projects. Watch this space! Watch too – or
rather listen out for – the roving mirimba troupe, who were so impressive
last year that they are bowing to public demand and going to take their
talents out and about, on the streets of Dunedin.

One last thought, speaking of 'out and about': the weather is finally so
stunning that at least if our children have to be at school in the sun,
they're in a beautiful spot – no concrete jungle here! And for most, it's only a
hop, skip and jump back home afterwards. Here's to local, country schools!

COMMENTAIT: Please Sir, can I have some more?

COMMENTAIT by Geraldine Tait

Please Sir, can I have some more?

I'm just wondering if we're all being duped. Every few days there is a
new announcement more audacious than the last. Some of these are
coming from the government, some from various corporations and others
from our local council.

Take the proposal to increase goods and services tax (GST) to 15% and
at the same time reduce the income tax of those earning more than
$70,000 a year, is there something a little unbalanced about this
policy? Oh yes, we've been promised changes in the taxes for those on
lower incomes and an increase in benefits but I think these are about
as reliable as the Ks on an old 1987 Japanese import. Do any of us
really believe that these adjustments to our take home income will
match the extra expenditure which will result from the bumped up GST?

I think in a year or so we'll all realize we've been ripped off again,
but it will be too late to undo the damage by that time. Maybe John
Key and his sidekick Bill English are testing the waters, they are
waiting to see how gullible we are. This proposal will obviously keep
some of their wealthy mates happy but there must be lots of National
voters who aren't millionaires.

These changes are supposed to sort out a number of problems with our
financial health and well-being as a country but they run against the
advice of the Governor of the Reserve Bank and ignore a substantial
part of the Tax Working Party's report. Both suggested cooling our
love affair with investing in property by introducing tax on either
land or houses other than the primary residence, in other words
"rentals".

No one wants to pay more tax or have to deal with more bureaucracy but
some taxes are less fair than others. GST hits the poorest, hardest,
every day at the supermarket, the petrol pump and when buying
essentials like clothes, medicines and paying for services like
plumbers, dentists and power bills.

We should all be climbing up on our roofs and jumping up and down and
yelling really loudly, "NO INCREASE TO GST!" There is only a short
time before the budget is out so haste and maximum impact is
essential.

But do be careful while you are up there, the health system like a
number of other essential services is broke. Yes we still have
fantastic medical and support staff who work extremely hard but their
budgets are shrinking and the list of customers continues to grow.
Health Boards have got not surgical scissors, but chainsaws out,
viciously slashing back services, removing people off lists not by
treating them but cleverly redefining their ailments or the criteria
for assistance. Access to health care does have to have some
boundaries but it is the lack of transparency and open dialogue that
is most annoying.

Similar things are happening to ACC entitlements, funding for Teacher
Aids who support children with disabilities or learning difficulties
in the classroom. There have been lots of cutbacks to courses which
offer basic educational qualifications to both school-leavers and
those adults who want a second go at education. These people
desperately need a hand up to avoid a future on the dole or on the
minimum wage. Oh yes, that just increased by 25 cents an hour to
$12.75 or $10 a week for a person working 40 hours. How does that
compare to a 5% tax decrease for someone earning over $70,000 a year?

The Government is trimming back in every area because it is spending
more than it's taking in, not a good way to be. But at the same time
as we will see reductions in services, we're facing constant increases
in rates, power, phone, food and yes petrol prices are creeping back
up again. The DCC has bent over backwards to reduce its rate increase
this year (does that make sense?). But the projections for the
increases, in the next few years are huge so is this just a little
sweetener for election year?

All they have done is delayed a few projects which will actually add
to their cost in the long run. The issue of having far too many items
on the wish list has not been dealt with, in fact I see more items
have been added on, such as moving the Library to the Old Post Office
building in the Exchange, don't tell me that won't cost a few Zillion!
Meanwhile the new rugby thingy with the ridiculously long name (the
lunch box) that most of us still don't want, is soaking up more
ratepayer dollars for mysterious new expenses. At the other end of
town, pensioners in council flats face yet another rent rise, but why
should they be complaining? They'll soon have a new Bunnings
Wharehouse to go shopping in and the buses are still free (9-3) for
those over-65s who can actually climb up onto them.

WAITATI ENERGY PROJECT (column)

WAITATI ENERGY PROJECT

by Scott Willis

There's plenty of news of wind farms to the West, and there is plenty
happening in our own patch too. If we're successful, we'll own our
turbine, and receive income from it, and have a say in what we do
collectively with that income. Turbine news will follow, but first a
little on Solar.

Solar (PV)

What if we could negotiate a good price for Photovoltaic systems (PV)?
(that's systems that convert solar energy from the sun directly into
electricity). Solar electricity systems, not solar hot water systems
(though they too should be on virtually every house as a matter of
course). The Waitati Energy Project has become aware of a potential
price drop in PV panels and along with the change in technology it is
simpler to connect to the grid. If confirmed, we may have an
opportunity to do a similar thing to last year's insulation retrofit
rollout: this time it would be a 'PV rollout'.

There are a few things to fall into place first. One, we're seeking
funding to employ someone to work on this initiative (our office is
small, with too many things on the desks already). Two, we'll need to
finalise negotiations with industry. Three, we'll need to set up the
systems to deliver. But the idea is that PV is complementary to a
community turbine – it is modular and can be put in place over time to
work in conjunction with it. Lindsay Graham is heading the WEP action
on this, and we've talking with Port Chalmers, Transition Valley 473
and Hampden Energy Group around spreading it along East Coast Otago,
and who knows where else?

Co-operative vs company

Work on the community turbine is demanding energy at present. This
month our report to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
is due, and there are still many loose ends to tie up. Alice Bowden,
along with Seth Gorrie and Solis Norton at the University of Otago are
working to allow us a robust generation estimate. Without enough wind
we can't do much. Thanks also to data provided by Trustpower (testing
in the late 1990s) we now have a good idea of what wind resources we
can expect, though there is much fine tuning to do. We're only
beginning to look at how we go about consulting widely. You know about
things via the Blueskin News of course, but we're planning a big
'Information Day' mid year to discuss the project in more depth. And
of course, how we own it is the big question (assuming it would be
worth owning - that is, there's enough wind). It is this curly
question that Polson
Higgs (business advisors) are contracted to help us find an answer to:
will it be a co-operative or a company? We'll be able to provide
interesting answers to this question by the end of March, I can
guarantee that!

Turbine Field Trip

The field trip to Pioneer Generation's three 750 Kw NEG Micon turbines
at Horseshoe Bend near Roxburgh is scheduled for Saturday the 13th
of March. This is going to be a fun day out, so please let me know if
you'd like to come along: we have a lot to organise and want your
details.

Turbine Testing Sites

Thank you to all who have suggested further sites. We're following up
promising ideas and if you're a landowner above Warrington with an
especially windy spot and like the idea, please get in touch.

Finally, while we're working on the turbine project at the Blueskin
Resilient Communities Trust office in Waitati, we're also busy writing
funding applications for all the other activities planned and will
soon be joined by a Weggie worker. None of that means we're too busy
to enjoy what else is on offer. I'm particularly looking forward to
the Train to Dunedin on the 10th of March and am planning a 'town
day'. Then on the 27th of March there's EARTH HOUR: Lights off,
between 8.30 – 9.30pm to raise awareness towards the need to take
action on climate change. And somewhere in between I'm off to Nelson
to talk about our project and meet with the other Climate Change hubs
funded by Hikurangi. Chuck in another Waitati Edible Gardeners Market
on the 21st of March and the month with be cooked!

22 February 2010

Get the train to work on 10 March (Waitati ad)

Wednesday 10th March

Get the train to work from Waitati at 7.40am or Michies Crossing at
7.45am – then stop off at the Octagon for:

• Free breakfast

• Entertainment

• Guest Speakers

• Information Stalls

Go to www.walk2work.org.nz to make a walking pledge, enter our
competitions and find out what else is happening.

BLUESKIN 10:10 (column): Downsizing the commute

BLUESKIN 10:10: Downsizing the commute

by Meiling Blank

With Walk-to-Work day in mind, Blueskin 10:10 spoke with Waitati
resident Rosemary, who was able to slash her commuting time, distance
and greenhouse gas emissions after negotiating with her employer.

Rosemary works for a union and had to fly several times each month to
Auckland. As her discomfort with the unsustainable amount of her
travelling grew, she knew something had to change. She reduced her
hours and now works part-time from home, drastically cutting back her
commute. Rosemary reports that her employer has been very supportive
of her, and in fact "sort of knew it was coming." The new arrangements
have just started this year, and while there are some definite
concerns about the reduction in income, there is the bonus of having
more free time.

While not all of us stuck in the commuting trap would be able or
willing to take such drastic action as Rosemary, if your work duties
make it possible, working from home for even just a portion of your
hours could benefit both you and your organisation. If you're
fortunate enough to work for an organisation that already has a policy
on working from home it might be worth checking out. If not, here are
some tips to help make it easy for your boss to say yes:

* Pitch the idea with your organisation in mind – for instance, if you
want to cut your commute to spend more time with your family, sell it
to your boss by emphasising how much more productive you will be
without the stress of travelling each day, or highlight the cost
savings from not having to provide you with desk space in the office.

* Show how your job tasks suit working from home – if you spend all
day on the phone, staring at a computer and filling out paperwork, why
not do it in your slippers?

* Describe your home office space and be able to explain how it meets
all the requirements needed for you to do your work – for most people
this will mean at least a phone, computer and internet connection.

* Propose a trial period (eg two days a week for the next three
months) to see if the new arrangements suit both you and your
organisation.

* Suggest ways to keep tabs on your productivity – an organisation's
biggest fear is that you will be sipping cocktails in your bath robe
when you should be working. It's also a good idea to be clear about
how frequently you will be in contact with your boss, and what support
you will need from management to make it a success.

OROKONUI ECOSANCTUARY column

OROKONUI ECOSANCTUARY

by Sue Hensley

March 6 is the date set for opening the top tracks of the Ecosanctuary to
self-guided walkers. On that day there will be activities for children,
displays, talks and bird spotting tips. Initially the tracks open to the
public will be limited to the main top track and two short side ones. The
opening of the valley track will not happen until the upgrade by the Dunedin
Rotary is complete – possibly mid-year.

It has been a busy month with some big groups involved including both the
Warrington Playcentre and School. Our wild kākā obviously recognised them as
fellow locals and came to visit to underline the conservation message being
put across.

The captive tuatara have had a check up and are all healthy and have put on
weight. Tuatara survived in this region in early times but Orokonui is the
coldest site where tuatara are currently held. This is of great interest to
researchers and Otago University is looking at growth rates, emergence
behaviour and how body and environmental temperatures relate.

Two cases of gecko poaching have been highlighted in the news recently. This
is something the Trust and experts have been very mindful of since last
year's jewelled gecko translocation. Although gecko are extremely difficult
to spot for most people the Trust has a policy of keeping the jewelled gecko
away from public view to minimise the risk from poaching.

Pest eradication is continuing to head in the right direction with one
hedgehog (rather fat) and one hare being trapped. The best news of all
though is that no rat footprints have been recorded from the target areas.
This of course does not mean they have been eradicated and many more nil
results will be needed before any conclusions can be reached.

The Cafe and Visitor Centre are open 7 days, 9.30-4.30. The Centre is free to
explore as is the Pa Harakeke walk (Flax Plantation), and the 9km perimeter
track. We also have a facebook page as well as a website
www.orokonui.org.nz to keep you up to date.

Community weeding day at Warrington Domain

Weeding day, Sunday 21 March at 10am, Warrington Domain

Classified ad: HOUSE MINDER

HOUSE MINDER: Available Oct-Dec 2010. I'll give your pets and pot
plants all the love and care they need. jeffreyhrobinson@yahoo.co.nz
027 4467 915. [5]

(Classified ads in 'Blueskin News' and on our website are free but
donations are always welcome, by cheque to Blueskin Media PO Box 154
Warrington or dropped off at Blueskin Bay Library. Blueskin Media is a
volunteer-run, not-for-profit community
publisher.)

Blueskin News is looking for a News Editor

Blueskin News is looking for a news editor

by the editors

A news editor opens incoming emails, checks them for grammar, spelling
and style, and sends them on to get placed in the 'Blueskin News', on
our website and to share with other media.

If you would like to help our voluntary newspaper, please get in
touch: editors@blueskin.co.nz.

Full training is available.

WAITATI VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE (column)

WAITATI VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

By Deanne Burrell

It has been a quiet start to the New Year with a minimal number of
callouts so well done everyone in keeping your community safe. We
have recently attended two motor vehicle accidents and would like to
remind people that when passing an accident scene, please slow down,
as it was noticed that many vehicles did not adjust their speed
accordingly.

It is with regret that we farewell two members of the brigade who have
recently resigned. We would like to thank Richard Peters and Bruce
Moderich for all their hard work and dedication to the Brigade and the
community. We wish you both well for the future.

Members of the brigade are looking forward to the upcoming A&P Show.
The brigade will have a site set up with information on fire safety
and members of the public will also get the opportunity to use a fire
hose. There will also be a miniature Fire Engine providing free rides
for the children. We look forward to a fun-filled day.

On Sunday 11 April we are having an Open Day at the Fire Station from
1pm onwards. We would like to extend an invitation to the public to
come along and have a look around the fire station. There will be
displays to look at and a free sausage sizzle. There will also be
information available for anyone that may be interested in becoming a
Volunteer Fire Fighter with our Brigade. So please mark it on your
calendar and we look forward to seeing you there.

A SMOKE ALARM without a battery

Is as useless as a car without brakes.

Make sure you test your alarms regularly.

OPINION: Horses on Warrington Beach?

OPINION

Horses on Warrington Beach?

By Karen Hobday

Horses are currently not allowed in Warrington reserve. There are only
a few beach reserves in the wider Dunedin area where horses are
allowed and Warrington is not one of them. If you want to walk your
horse on the beach the only access points are through the reserve. If
you want horses to access the beach, please put in a submission to the
draft Coastal Dune Reserves Management Plan. (See Warrington Reserve
Group column for information on how to do this.)

If you want to know more about this then phone Malgosia 482 2559.

There will be a petition at Blueskin Store if you wish to support
horse owners to use existing access roads to get to the beach.

WARRINGTON RESERVE GROUP column

WARRINGTON RESERVE GROUP

by Karen Hobday

If you want to have a say about what activities are and are not
allowed on our beach and reserve, or how the plants, dunes and
wildlife are managed, then you need to put in a submission to the
draft of the Dunedin City Council's Coastal Dune Reserves Management
Plan before 5:00pm Friday 12 March 2010. This plan will impact on and
guide the management of our area for at least the next ten years, so
it's important. There is any easy two page submission form to fill
out, and there are copies of the management plan and submission forms
online at

www.dunedin.govt.nz/consultation

There are also copies available at the DCC Customer Services Office at
the Civic Centre and all libraries. We have put copies to view at
Blueskin Store, Warrington School and Warrington Post Boxes, or you
can ring DCC 4774000 to get a copy.

Look at the general section Parts One and Two (pages 6, 13 and 26
discuss specific Warrington issues), and the Warrington section in
Part Three (9.10) pages 53-57.

A community consultation meeting was held in June 2007 to discuss what
we did and didn't want for our beach and reserve. Other communities
between Waikouaiti and Taieri Mouth were also consulted, and then a
draft was presented to a working group of DCC staff and
representatives from the council and community boards. This is the
final draft of that process for the public to comment on.

Warrington Reserve Group invited DCC to present information about the
management plan and submission process, at a public meeting at
Warrington Hall on 18 Feb 2010. About 50 people attended, and it was
great to have a variety of viewpoints expressed. Dolina Lee (Ruth
McKain's replacement as Reserves Policy and Planning Officer), Renee
Gordon (Parks Officer), Ros MacGill and Jim Pryde (Animal Control)
presented information and answered questions. Trees, dogs, horses,
vehicles, dunes and wildlife were all discussed. Now it's up to us to
have our say before representatives of the council decide what the
plan will be.

If you have any questions phone Karen 4822762 or Geraldine 4822517.

POTTERING IN THE POTAGER (column)

Craig: please stick our small logo – the bunch of herbs – in the
bottom right hand corner.
POTTERING IN THE POTAGER

By Lynnaire Johnston

Despite the very late appearance of summer, the potager's brassicas
are bolting. Jason Ross informs me that inconsistent or lack of water
is the most likely culprit. My basils, too, despite greenhouse
nurturing have been dismal thanks to the lack of heat and the tomatoes
are very late ripening. Instead of growing them in pots, next year I
am going to try black plastic grow bags to see if that helps their
less-than-startling prolificacy.

The late burst of summer has brought with it plenty of unwelcome pests
to infiltrate the brassicas. A blast of warm, soapy water seems to
make them uncomfortable enough to decamp but only temporarily. Also
making an unwelcome appearance now that the red hot pokers are in
blooming, are the wasps. But at least the birds, too, are enjoying the
polkas.

The kale is doing splendidly which is very pleasing, because
stir-fried in sizzling sesame oil, fresh kale is one of winter's
pleasures and when fresh from the garden so very good for you.

My small (Warehouse-purchased to my shame) worm bin is producing
nicely after a slow start and I'm about to double its size because the
one bin cannot keep up with all the organic refuse exiting my kitchen.
I've acquired an old wringer washing machine tub, which I'm about to
put up on bricks in a shady spot in which my little wrigglies can go
mad. Each fortnight I empty out the "tea" that accumulates in the
bottom of my bin and dilute it before spreading it around my
vegetables. (Recently, I had septic tank trouble and the surrounding
soil had to be dug out. I shoved it around the rhubarb with
startlingly prolific results! I also discovered where my entire garden
worm population had got to!)

In the next few weeks I'm going to get more over-wintering brassicas
planted and the ODT informs me that I still have time to get onion
seed in. All I need are more sunny days in which to get it done before
winter sets in.

Column sponsored by The Village Potager, open daily on the corner of
Foyle St and Doctors Point Rd for preserves, plants (principally
herbs) and produce. Phone 482 1364.

WAITATI EDIBLE GARDENERS (column)

PHOTO: The garden plans for Waitati School provide a head-scratching
moment for members of the Waitati Open Orchard group on their Waitati
wander recently.

WAITATI EDIBLE GARDENERS

By Lynnaire Johnston, Jackie Fanning and Jason Ross

Harvest market a success

A goodly number of buyers and sellers converged on the Old Waitati
Stores two weekends ago for the first WEGies Harvest Market of the
year. The warm, cloud-free morning, provided a perfect backdrop for
the community spirit and joie de vivre which emanated from all
quarters. Mark and Rayna Dickson provided beautiful old wooden tables
for stallholders, while others brought their own wheelbarrows from
which to sell their wares.

Not all goods were paid for, some were exchanged by barter – an
arrangement that seemed to be a win-win for those taking part.

While the bulk of the customers were locals, we were also graced with
the presence of a number of people from outside the area – one even
from London! Now, that's a long way to come to buy your chutney! Some
unusual products turned up including the cutest little chickens you
ever saw (courtesy Scott and Jenna Willis), linden tea from Maia's
100-year old tree in Warrington, and lush bunches of coriander and
other herbs. The size and freshness of the produce on sale indicated a
great deal of care had gone into their production.

The WEGies' fundraising stand which sold lettuces, herbs, artichokes
and jams was well supported, with a good supply of funds raised for
upcoming projects.

Only locally grown or produced food is sold at the three annual
harvest markets and it is extremely gratifying to see the breadth of
the range grown in Blueskin Bay, and the care with which it is tended.

The next harvest market will be held on Sunday March 21 from 10.30am
at the same venue – the Old Waitati Stores, Harvey Street. There will
be another WEGie fundraising stall, and donations of products for sale
are especially welcome.

The Waitati Open Orchard

A core of WOO folk walked around part of the village recently and have
some great long-term plans to get more fruit/nut trees planted in
Waitati. A couple of hours was spent at the school doing the important
summer prune to the WOO fruit trees there.

'Adopt a WOO Tree' is one of our next focuses. For this we will be
asking you to volunteer to look after a WOO fruit tree. Depending on
your wishes this could be an existing tree or one that you want
planted close to your home.

The next WOO meeting will be held on March 18 at the Waitati Hall at
7:30pm to move our ideas along. All welcome. Enquiries are welcome at
waitatiopenorchard@gmail.com

BLUESKIN GARDEN CLUB (column)

BLUESKIN GARDEN CLUB

By Lynnaire Johnston

The dramatic and long-awaited improvement in the weather meant the
Blueskin Garden Club enjoyed balmy weather for its first foray of the
year, to Valerie and Mike Fay's Mount Cargill garden.

Rhododendron dells, perennial borders and propagating areas vied with
the bay-wide view for attention, with the boardwalk running across the
property's stream and bog proving popular.

Val is a volunteer at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and propagates plants
for project, and so spent some time talking about both the latest
developments there and her role.

This month the club will be visiting an entirely different sort of
garden – the much smaller Village Potager, on the corner of Foyle St
and Doctors Point Rd. There, Lynnaire Johnston has taken over a
one-acre organic, permaculture-based garden that is a mix of
vegetables, herbs, perennials, orchard and wild area.

As many people already know, Lynnaire makes the Village Potager range
of preserves from locally grown produce, and propagates plants for
sale. She sells these at local markets and from "shed' on the
street-corner of her property.

She will share her "secrets" for making the chutneys, sauces and
jellies that are proving so popular locally. Please bring along a
recipe and a handy hint to do with preserving. There will also be
tastings so members are encouraged to bring along a sample or two of
something they have made.

The meeting on Thursday March 11 will start at 7.30. Please park in
Foyle St, but come to the signposted Village Potager entrance.

For further information on joining Blueskin Garden Club or learning
about its activities, please phone Lyn Hastie on 482 2896 or Lyne
Carlyle on 482 2822.

WARRINGTON SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB (column)

WARRINGTON SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB

by Pete Russell

The 2009/2010 season has been a busy one with weekend patrols and
inter-club competitions. Patrols have been well supported with over 50
life guards in the club. Many thanks to the regional guard team whose
work around the club has been a great help, in particular Arthur
Ibbotson for the board coaching sessions prior to Ocean Athletes.

Inter-club competition has gone well this year with 3 events in
December and one in January with the club finishing 2nd overall in all
four tournaments. A big contingent of Juniors went up to Christchurch
for the Southern Region Ocean Athletes over Waitangi weekend.
Congratulations to all competitors, a great weekend was had by all and
thanks to the parents and the coaching team of Mark Familton, Cherie
Oldham and Polly Clyne for some great results for the club. Well done
to the medalists:

Gold

Allie Adams U11 beach flags, U11 Board Race

Johnny Oldham U13 beach flags, U13 beach sprint

Matt Kelly U14 beach sprint

U14 mixed beach relay (Matt Kelly, Johnny Oldham, Tarn Neuman, Immy Doyle)

2 KM Beach Relay (Matt Kelly, Johnny Oldham, Allie Adams, Talia Oldham)

Silver:

Allie Adams U11 surf race

Devon Familton U11 Run Swim Run

Bronze:

Devon Familton U11 surf race

Allie Adams, U11 beach sprint, U11 Run Swim Run

Matt Kelly U14 beach flags

Talia Oldham U16 beach flags

Congratulations also to Carina Doyle (St Clair) and Hamish McCulloch
(Brighton) who are associate members and lifeguards of our club, who
won 3 golds each. Well done also to the club Secretary and President
for completing the 1.5 km Harbour swim during the recent Masters Games
and we wish them well in their future ocean swims.

The final club day is March 14th with club prize-giving beginning at
10.00am followed by a barbecue. The lifeguard Kangaroo court and break
up will begin at 1.00pm once the flags are out and beach set up. All
those offending life guards make sure you bring plenty of Coke(tm) to
compensate your fellows for your misdemeanors/misadventures during the
season.

21 February 2010

Classified Ad: CARPENTERY WORK

CARPENTERY WORK: Mark Horsefield available for all building,
carpentry, gib stopping, building plan work. Ph 03 482 2515 or 0210
537 701.

BLUESKIN BAY LIBRARY (column)

BLUESKIN BAY LIBRARY

Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa is huge and we are sure you'll be as
excited about it as we are. Be sure to read the article with the
detail about this network and then come down to the library to see
what it can offer you. Andall entirely free!

Blueskin Poets 2009 was launched in February and copies are now
available for sale. This year there are fewer colour pages and so we
were able to keep the cost down. Only $10 will buy you a copy of this
collection of work by local poets, and featuring in particular poems
by Blueskin children. There are copies at the library for you to look
at. Your own name or the name of someone in your family is probably
there. We are sure you will enjoy the poetry and will admire the
beautiful cover by Jessie Blyth of Waitati School. There are a limited
number of copies, so don't miss out. Come in or ring us to order one.

Library Cards

Most of you will be familiar by now with the new computer system that
the library is using. While it gives us greater capacity, one of the
things that is more difficult is issuing to people who haven't brought
their library card with them. So we ask that everyone make a
particular effort to have their card on them when they want items
issued. Many thanks in advance.

The New Library: the story so far

We are often asked about progress on this, and we are pleased to let
you know that much work is going on behind the scenes. At the moment
this is on two fronts. You will all know that much money has to be
raised, and fund-raising is a major focus of the planning. The other
main focus is on the plans, and we can tell you that final detailed
architectural drawings are now being prepared. Quite a bit has been
achieved to get to this point, and we will keep you up-to-date on
progress as it happens.

Staff Changes

We are sorry to announce that Kate won't be rejoining our staff. Our
school shelver, Bessie, is also moving on when her family shifts into
town. Both have contributed a huge amount to the efficiency and
friendliness that we like to see as a mark of our library. We wish
them both well and hope they stay in touch.

Warrington Outreach

The Book Car will be at Warrington School from 2-3pm on Wednesdays,
March 3, March 10 and March 24. Anyone in the Warrington community is
welcome to drop material off to us at these times.

Warrington Book Club

Our first meeting of the year will be after school March 3 and 24.
This club is a delightful group of lively, intelligent readers who are
keen to share the books they have recently enjoyed. It creates a buzz
about reading that is sheer pleasure.

Louise is a JP!

Many of you will know that Louise was sworn in as a JP in December,
because many of you were there at the ceremony. There was great
community support for her. She would like everyone to be aware that
she is available at the library and at her home for signature
witnessing, and authorisation of documents. Well done Louise. We are
proud of this honour, and of the contribution she makes to the
community in so many ways.

NEWS: Mainly Music is coming to Waitati

Mainly Music is coming to Waitati

by Marion Rucker

Pre-schoolers (or homeschoolers) and their caregivers are invited to
the very first Mainly Music session at the Waitati Community Hall on
Tuesday 9 March, 10-11pm. Nannas and Dads are especially welcome.

Each Mainly Music session will contain 30 minutes of songs and
actions, instruments, and fun props. The following 30 minutes is
morning tea and chat time. Sessions run in the school term times and
cost $2 per child or $3 per family (up to four children).

This Mainly Music programme is part of Mainly Music International,
started over 15 years ago by volunteers who wanted to introduce
children to the developmental benefits of music, dance and rhythm as
well as provide a place for mums (and caregivers) to connect and
support one another. Our Mainly Music programme is run completely by
volunteers supported financially by a local church. Our team are
current members of the Pine Hill Mainly Music group and we are a
mixture of Waitati and Dunedin mums.

For any questions regarding Mainly Music please feel free to contact
Kim Park (03 4738932) or Jenny O'Neil (0273787258). Looking forward to
meeting you and you're littlies on Tuesday.

Hi Peter

Is it possible to have the attached article in Blueskin News?
Any problems with the attachment let me know

Thanks

Marion

--------
Original Message --------

Article for Blueskin Bay news

Thu, 18
Feb 2010 15:55:37 +1300

Kim and Greg

dmbf@vodafone.co.nz

Hi
Marion Attached is a draft copy of the article for the Blueskin Bay News.
Would you mind reading through it and seeing if the tone is appropriate for
the newsletter. Having not seen it before I'm a little unsure as to how
formal/informal it should sound. If you think it needs changing could you
let me know quickly and I'll re-write. If you think its OK can you just
forward it on please to the editor. Thanks. Hey, me and a few of the Pine
Hill crew came and checked out you're hall yesterday. Its perfect for
Mainly Music I think. Thanks for doing the ground work. We are planning to
have a dry run session (free) on Tuesday March 2 just for a few bods.
Thought we'd use it to iron out any wrinkles so don't expect it to be
perfect but morningtea should still be good. We'll start at about 10. You
and the kids are very welcome. OK see you. Kim P

BLUESKIN BAY FM (column)

BLUESKIN BAY FM

By Sandra Muller and Nathan Parker

Open-minded, new Radio Station looking for friends in the wider
Blueskin Bay area

For those of you who have not heard it yet: our very own radio
station, Blueskin Bay FM, has started to broadcast from Warrington
School on 88.2 FM. At the moment, BBFM offers an interesting mix of
music and programmes produced by the
station's committee members and the talented children of Warrington
School. Over the next few weeks, we will expand and diversify our
broadcasts, hopefully with enthusiastic input from our local
community. Waitati School will shortly begin work in the Studio.

Blueskin Bay FM is presently running 24/7 in test mode and will soon be ready
for the official launch. All Room 1 pupils are involved in the
creation of 10-30 minute shows during the week. Music played on
BBFM is presently Creative Commons licensed music BBFM still need to
raise funds to play copyrighted music. We are keen to have the
community assisting our pupils run the station during the day with
more open access to the radio station out of school hours (8am-4pm) If
you are keen to be involved helping either the pupils or BBFM please
talk to us.

Since BBFM is a non-commercial station, we do need the support of our
listeners. Many community members have already gifted their time and
expertise to get the station off the ground. Yet in the months, years,
decades to come we will need
ongoing help to cover its basic running costs (power, licenses,
maintenance, etc.). For those of you who feel they can offer such
help, we have established the "Friends of Blueskin Bay FM". All it
takes for you to join is a $10 annual donation and you can sign up at
the Waitati Library.

So to all you Bay-dwellers and Coast Road settlers, from the cliffs to
the hills, down to the flats and the valleys, be our friends and keep
BBFM on air!

To contact Blueskin Bay FM:

email: blueskinbayfm & gmail.com

website: blueskinbayfm.blogspot.com

old-style: PO Box 88, Waitati

Hon Pete Hodgson. MP clinic for March 2010:

Hon Pete Hodgson MP's clinics for March:
Monday 15 March 2010
1:30pm Waikouaiti Library
2:30pm Waitati Library

BLUESKIN PLAYCENTRE (column)

BLUESKIN PLAYCENTRE

by Marion Rucker

It was great to get back into Playcentre at the beginning of February and see
how much everyone had grown. Our theme for this term is our neighbourhood,
so we'll be out and about exploring Waitati and discussing the beautiful
environment we live in! We started this with a visit to Room 3 to meet Miss
Burra and catch up with Tessa, making scones to take with us for sharing
time.

We are very grateful for three grants received at Playcentre - Dunedin Casino
funded a new double cot and mattresses for our baby sleeping area, Trusts
Charitable Foundation funded new outdoor play equipment and Lodge St
Patrick kindly funded the replacement of our sand pit sun shade. Huge
thanks to Lisa and Mikaela for submitting the grant applications.

Blueskin Playcentre is doing a sausage sizzle at Mitre 10 on Sunday 14th
March so if you can please come along and support us.

21-27 March 2010 is Playcentre Awareness Week. As part of this we are
hosting an open day on Wednesday 24 March at Blueskin Playcentre from
10-11.30am, so please come along to see what we do and join us for
morning tea.

Classified Ad PHOTOCOPYING

PHOTOCOPYING for only 8 cents: St Barnabas Church now has a
photocopier and we are offering a photocopy service for 8 cents a
page. Contact Louise at the
Blueskin Bay Library on 482 2444 if would like to take advantage of this
service. [5]

WARRINGTON PLAYCENTRE (column)

WARRINGTON PLAYCENTRE

By Rachel Ozanne

We had a great visit to Orokonui Ecosanctuary with Tahu Mackenzie.
The children were met by a 'giant kaka' who told us a story about the
birds of New Zealand. We then went for a walk to discover wild kaka,
wood pigeons, brown creepers, grey warblers and tuis. We also
discovered tadpoles in the ponds and learnt about the trees that were
being planted. Finally we all made fabulous bird masks.

Playcentre is a wonderful place to gain new friends and keep up with
old ones. Feel free to stop by for a cup of tea and see what we are
all about. We are open on Tuesday (10.30 to 1.00), and Wednesday &
Thursday mornings 9.15 to 12.15.

We cater for children aged from birth right up to 6 years of age,
their parents and caregivers. Come and get to know other parents with
young children in the community. For information you can call our
centre ph 027 2277329 or contact Mary-Jane Mirfin on 482 1962.

Lenten Study Group

The gospel stories: a dynamic exporation.

Tuesdays in March at 7pm - 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31, St Barnabas
Church hall.

A study using Bibliodrama, visualisation and art

Vance Vidal and Murray Broom facilitating

Everyone welcome.

Contact Louise at the Bluskin Bay library (482 2444) for more details.

--
Louise Booth

St Barnabas Church has a new priest

Photos: Vance and his new chauffeur

St Barnabas Church has a new priest

St Barnabas Church, Warrington has a new "Priest-enabler", a role
shared with all the churches between Warrington and Hampden.

Vance Vidal's Anglican Communion began fifty years ago when he was 15,
teaching and working with children and youth in a little parish.

Six years later, after working in drama with youth groups while at
University in Arizona, Vance went for theological training in
Virginia, followed in Arizona with four years or so as an assistant in
a large parish and university chaplain, then some years as a Vicar in
small town churches and rural areas, including one on the Mexican
border, one in a farming town in the high desert, then to a mining
town in the hills not far from Tombstone.

Vance came to New Zealand in 1981, worked in a cooperating parish for
several years, and then as a school chaplain. After being interim at
Waimate North in the Bay of Islands, where he met Kathy from Okaihau,
Vance opted to be a high school teacher again, and a non-stip priest
-which continued for fifteen years. Kathy and Vance married and
settled in Kerikeri with two children, Jessica and Andre.

Vance and a couple of drama teachers organized the Bay of Islands
Youth Theatre before four years in the Gore parish as Vicar, three
years in the Dunstan as Enabler, then at Selwyn College filling in as
chaplain, while developing a lifestyle block near Outram.

THE EXTREMELY FAMOUS ANNUAL SEACLIFF GARAGE SALE

THE EXTREMELY FAMOUS

ANNUAL SEACLIFF GARAGE SALE

SUNDAY 21 MARCH

The Domain, Kilgour Street, Seacliff

10am to 2pm - Rain or shine

Food. Music. Entertainment. Bargains. Something for Everyone.

Stall holders welcome

(Stalls free, but we will be asking for a small contribution for advertising.

Any queries Contact Cathie – tel: 465 8222

WARRINGTON SCHOOL (column)

WARRINGTON SCHOOL

by school staff and parents

We have been blessed with some beautiful summer weather and the rain
held off for our visit to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, which was a
superb visit, the Ecosanctaury is an amazing space with its increasing
bird numbers, regenerating bush and incredible use of shipping
containers for the visitors centre. We were all
impressed with the fabulous staff that showed us around and shared
their amazing knowledge.

The School goals for this year focus on teaching and learning in the
arts areas and increasing our understanding of children's varying
learning needs. The teachers have been discussing a school target of
how our community-based projects
will improve the social literacy of our pupils. Social literacy refers
to a person's ability to communicate effectively and ethically across
society – something that is believed an important skill to learn.

Our 2010 projects are the creating of a school vision map with
resident artist Juliet Sorrel, the stream restoration project plan
with our very own Enviroschools facilitator and teacher Trisha Korth.
There is also a community gardening project being initiated, the
development of the courts area (see noticeboard for details)
and pupils broadcasting live over Blueskin Bay FM.

BB FM is presently running 24/7 in test mode and will soon be ready
for the official launch. All Room 1 pupils are involved in the
creation of 10 30 minute shows during the week. Music played on
BBFM is presently Creative Commons licensed music BBFM still need to
raise funds to play copyrighted music. We are keen to have the
community assisting our pupils run the station during the day with
more open access to the radio station out of school hours 8am4pm. If
you are keen to be involved helping either the pupils or BBFM please
talk to us.

We are aiming to establish a drum and dance culture in the school. We
would like to include this into this year's Kaupapa festival. We also
hope to perform at the A&P show on Saturday 20 March and at the
midwinter festival.

Seaweek (7-14 March) is the annual celebration of our precious marine
environment. To find out what activities are available please visit
www.seaweek.org.nz. The DOC/DCC Great Dunedin Coastal Cleanup
will be taking place along the whole of Dunedin City's coastline
(including harbours, estuaries and lagoons) on Sunday 14 March –
Warrington's litter pickup will be 1pm at the Surf Club.

Dates:

Wednesday 3 March: WAWA Challenge

Thursday 4 March: BOT Meeting 7.30pm

Friday 5 March: WAWA Challenge Postponement Day

Sun 7-14 March: Sea Week

Tues 9-Fri 12 March: Year 7/8 camp

Saturday 20 March: Blueskin Bay Country Fair and Clearing Sale

Monday 22 March: Otago Anniversary

Thursday 1 April: End of term 1

Monday 19: April: Term 2 Begins

Friends of Warrington School

Need More Garden Space?

Want to share in some gardening fun with family, friends and neighbours?
Do you loving mixing magic potions, growing organic family friendly
food and talking dirt?

We are interested in utilizing some of the Warrington School grounds
for community gardens or allotment style plots. If you are keen to
help us shape this community project please contact Jan on 482 1728 or
cell 022 614 9266.

18 February 2010

Blueskin Bay radio news for Friday Feb 19

Puketapu Radio presents Blueskin Bay local news in association with blueskin.co.nz

Fancy a night out locally? A French dancing workshop being held tonight may be the answer. No dancing experience, or dance partner is required. No special clothes or shoes will be necessary. It is also suitable for people without dancing experience. The workshop will give showcase the diversity of French and European dances and everybody can participate. Dunedin dance teacher Kate Grace is proposing workshops at Waitati every first and third Friday of the month. Tonight’s event begins at 6pm.

The first WEGgies Harvest Market of the year is on this Sunday from 10.30am. It will be held at the Old Waitati Store on Harvey St. Stalls are free for sellers with locally produced items for sale. These will include plants, preserves and produce. There will also be a traditional apple press available for those wanting to press their own apples or pears, or buy freshly-pressed juice. If you have items to donate to a WEGie fundraising stand, please bring them along to the market or drop them off at the Village Potager, corner Doctors Point Road and Foyle Street.

Waitati Open Orchard members walked around Waitati last weekend looking at where to plant more fruit and nut trees in the town. The group also pruned fruit trees at the local school. Their next focus will be ‘Adopt a WOO Tree’, a project in which townsfolk will be designated to look after a WOO fruit tree. This could be an existing tree or one that you want planted close to your home. The next WOO meeting will be held on March 18.

A community garden or allotment project is being planned for Warrington. Spare space in the school grounds is being earmarked for those want to share in some gardening fun with family, friends and neighbours. If you need more garden space than you have or just want to know more, check out the Blueskin blog for contact details.

The Blueskin Bay local volunteer news website can be found at www.blueskin.co.nz.

Interview with Hodgson pronounced a success

by Peter Dowden

Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson visited community broadcaster Blueskin
Bay FM for an interview on Monday, 15 February.

During the interview with Warrington School Room 1 pupils Stephanie
and Miya, he demonstrated a politician's ability to field a curly
question.

Asked "how do you feel about having a National government?" he
replied, "I don't like it at all. I used to be a Cabinet Minister and
now I'm something called a back bencher, and I don't have anything
important to do."

Pete explained that his last name is pronounced "hodson", not
"hojson", but, ever the political pragmatist, "I don't mind how people
pronounce it."

Pete enjoyed his interview, then turned the tables, interviewing the
children for a few moments. He agreed to visit the station for another
interview in March.

Warrington School: Need more garden space?

Need More Garden Space?

by Nathan Parker

Want to share in some gardening fun with family, friends and neighbours?

Do you loving mixing magic potions, growing organic family friendly
food and talking dirt?

We are interested in utilizing some of the Warrington School grounds
for community gardens or allotment style plots.

If you are keen to help us shape this community project please contact
Jan on 482 1728 or cell 022 614 9266

15 February 2010

Waitati Film Society programme

Waitati Film Society

by Leonie Rousselot

All welcome to join us at the Film Society, corner of Orokonui and Mt.
Cargill Roads on Tuesdays at 8.00pm. Membership for one year is $60
and covers 29 nights of entertainment. We offer drama, comedy, history
or just plain entertainment in a warm, pleasant environment with
convivial company. For more info ring Brigitte 482-2829 or Leonie
482-2508 or visit: www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/waitati.htm

Tuesday March 2

APRON STRINGS (NZ 2008)

This South Auckland story is about two families of two cultures: one
Sikh, the other dyed-in-the-wool Anglo. Food and love are intertwined
in this tale of two mothers who must find the courage to confront the
secrets and misunderstandings of the past, in order to set their sons
free. The boundaries of nurture and control, mothering and smothering
are explored in this irresistibly local celebration of recognizable
real lives on the big screen and ends fittingly with cups of tea. 90min

Tuesday March 16

MY WINNIPEG (Canada 2007)

Guy Maddin's portrait of his native city is intensely idiosyncratic
and hilariously unreliable, constructed around his apparently doomed
imperative to escape the place, and with it, his mother. He takes us
back to the sensual mayhem of his mother's hairdressing salon, the
macho world of ice hockey and the locker rooms of the city's
subterranean
pools. 80min

Tuesday March 30

THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS (Denmark 2005)

An investigative journey into the phenomenon of "documentary", based
on manifestos written by directors Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth.
About a filmmaker not only revisiting, but also recreating one of his
first films, "The Perfect Human". Von Trier's stated intention is
to mine a vein of suffering in Leth's work which he feels hasn't been
presented before or as he puts it, he wants the feel of `a tortoise
on its back'. 90min

Tuesday April 13

TOPAZ (USA 1969_

Hitchcock takes you behind the actual headlines to expose the most
explosive spy scandal of the century! A French intelligence agent
becomes embroiled in the Cold War politics first by uncovering the
events leading to the 1962 Cuban Missle Crisis, and then back to
France to break up an international Russian spy ring. 127mim

Tuesday April 27

McLAREN THE INNOVATOR (Canada)

14 short films by N McLaren, 61min

From the Animation Genius, Norman McLaren, we show three programmes
containing short films selected from a wealth of works spanning five
decades. Famous for experimenting with both the visual and aural
possibilities of the moving image, McLaren's films are marked by an
internationalist social conscience, an insistence on exploring the
malleability of the film form and a playful sense of humour. No
matter how abstract they may at first appear, his films boast an
engaging narrative structure that contributes to their timelessness
and accessibility.

Tuesday May 11

AFTER THE FALL (Germany 1999)

This documentary explores the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin
Wall and the almost total disappearance of its once 160 kilometres
long structure that surrounded West Berlin. Since then, some 50,000
new buildings have been erected in the capital. But the common tenor
of different people is that the wall and its traces were eradicated
too quickly, with the intention of clearing away the past as soon as
possible. 85min

Tuesday May 25

McLAREN DAZZLERS (Canada)

11 short films by N McLaren, see April 27. 75min

Tuesday June 1

COMRADES IN DREAMS (Germany 2006)

Four lives that could not be more different and a single passion that
unites them: the unconditional love for their cinemas, somewhere at
the end of the world. From North Korea to Wyoming, India to Burkina
Faso, we follow their efforts to make their audiences dream every
night. The film dives into a set of fascinating lives where stories
from the everyday and from the silver screen frequently merge into
something magical. 100min

Tuesday June 8

McLAREN MOVEMENT MUSIC AND CONFLICT (Canada)

14 short films by N McLaren, see April 27 52min

Tuesday June 15

BERLIN IS IN GERMANY (Germany 2001)

After 11 years in prison, the former GDR citizen Martin Schulz has
been released from jail into a unified Germany. With nothing but East
German documents and money and good humour, he re-establishes contact
with his former wife and son. Fellow jailbird Victor gets him a job
in a video store. But Schulz's past is haunting him. Not being able
to get a taxi driver's license because of his criminal past and his
contact to the shady Victor leads to serious trouble. 93min

Tuesday June 22

SUN ALLEY (Germany 1999)

A film about life in the 1970's at the tail end of Sun Alley, in the
shadow of the Berlin Wall… A lively, beautifully played coming-of-
age tale that takes a comic look at an era usually portrayed through
bleak dramas or espionage
thrillers. 101min

Tuesday June 29

I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND (Czech Republic 2007)

Czechoslovakia, 1963. Jan Díte is released from prison after serving
15 years. He goes into semi exile in a deserted village near the
German border. In flashbacks, he tells his story: he's a small,
clever and quick-witted young man, stubbornly naïve, a vendor at a
train station. Thanks to a patron, he becomes a waiter at upscale
hotels and restaurants. "A sexy bit of satire... easily one of the
cleverest and wittiest comedies to come out of Europe in recent
years." 120min

Tuesday July 6

SUMMER IN BERLIN (Germany 2005)

Nike and divorcee Katrin spend their evenings on Nike's balcony,
looking down at the city below. From their perspective, the world is
turbulent and troublesome – the good guys usually turn out to be
bad; decent jobs are hard to come by; and you have to be tough to
succeed. The sensitive portrayal of the two female characters is
coupled with moments of enchanting comedy. It is a moving film full
of warmth, sincerity and delightful humour. 105min

Tuesday July 13

NINE QUEENS (Argentina 2000)

Boyish, likable Juan and hard-edged, scheming Marcos meet by chance.
Marcos seems to have cheated everyone including his siblings. He
offers to teach Juan tricks for a day. Juan accepts as he needs money
to release his father from prison. Marcos gets asked by an ex-
associate to help sell a forged set of rare stamps, the Nine Queens,
and asks Juan to use his savings to set up the
deal. 114min

Tuesday July 20

THE MISTRESS OF SPICES (USA/Britain 2005)

Tilo, the young Indian Mistress of Spices is sent to San Francisco
with three basic rules to follow: help her clients to accomplish
their desires with the spices, but never hers; never leave the store;
and never touch the skin of another person. When she meets American
architect Doug, she feels a great attraction and desire for him,
breaking the first rule and being punished by the
spices. 92min

French dancing workshop this Friday

by Kate Grace

Do we have to wear clogs?.... French dancing (and beyond) at the Waitati
hall - Friday 19th Feb. 6pm - Koha

Suitable for people without dancing experience. It will give an impression
of the diversity of French and European dances. Everybody can participate.
No dancing experience, no dance partner required. No special clothes or
shoes necessary.

Kate Grace is most known in Dunedin as a teacher of African folk dance and
for her involvement with Songbong. After a recent 3-year stay in France
(her native country) she rediscovered French and European folk dances and
attended many workshops and festivals of traditional music and dance. She
started a regular dance session on Thursdays at 6pm at the Baptist Hall in
North-East Valley and is now proposing workshops every first and third
Friday of each month to the Waitati community.
Here are some links to give you an idea of what I am aiming for.

Last workshop in Waitati, we had a look at the Gavotte de l'Aven (Bretagne),
the Andro (Bretagne), the mazurka (Poland).

Try to convince husbands and partners...Good luck!

Rondeau

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJrqvKPKPww

Bransle d'escosse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZSdzsdRhhk

Scottish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ef52ZOvdM
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ef52ZOvdM&feature=related>
&feature=related

Valse ecossaise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsiQiy36Dqk

Laride 8 temps (Bretagne) - actually these guys are the ones I was with in
France not long ago...nice to see them again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W7XALNjE_s

And a waltz for the holidays :0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8YXiX0U6x8
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8YXiX0U6x8&feature=related>
&feature=related

Andro (Bretagne)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_hIfObzRtQ
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_hIfObzRtQ&feature=related>
&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJVIPuU_X8E
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJVIPuU_X8E&feature=PlayList&p=42295ECEB5046
9C7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2>
&feature=PlayList&p=42295ECEB50469C7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

And here is the "gavotte des montagnes" 3 parts: ton simpl/tamm kreiz/ton
doubl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH0CZrnjqjE
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH0CZrnjqjE&feature=PlayList&p=7D861462A90F2
AB0&index=4> &feature=PlayList&p=7D861462A90F2AB0&index=4

The 2nd part (the rest part) looks quite organised in this video, what I
have seen in bals is often "slacker" than that.

Mazurka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttlpW1VY88E
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttlpW1VY88E&feature=related>
&feature=related

ah romantic vision of France!... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skwQStUUkA0
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skwQStUUkA0&feature=related>
&feature=related

That's what you can do when you are completely at ease with the dance...
maybe not next week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Upg0GSpgU

This is a performance of a "gavotte de l'Aven" by a "groupe foklorique" in
Brittany

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual
<http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=405329
87> &VideoID=40532987

This is actually what happen in "bals trad" (Ivoirine second piece in the
video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwIy_WnW3cM

I really hope this will happen here too.

One day.

Kate

"Les Belles Vilaines"

French dancing and beyond

473 6488

027 26 399 39

kategrace@clear.net.nz

www.frenchdancing.co.nz

14 February 2010

NEWS: Blueskin A&P Clearing Sale and Country Fair

Blueskin A&P Clearing Sale and Country Fair

by Paul Clements

This year's event is scheduled for 20 March we are inviting all of our
local schools and clubs to participate.

This is an event being run by locals for the community, all funds
raised going back into the community.

The schools and clubs are providing a range of foods and stall's from
the "Flying Possum" Cafe being organized by Waitati School.

Warrington School are selling hot chips and burgers, they are also
making available vintage car rides, along with Southern Clams chowder
as part of their fundraiser.

Playcentres are organizing various rides horses and trains.

Mandy Mayhem, our local Ring Master, is once again entertaining the
children with a wide range of centre ring events.

Car boot sales and local clubs selling their wares are welcome.

The International Possum Tossing Championship will once again feature
with our local champions coming along to defend their titles.

The clearing sale opens for entries on Friday evening, closing on
Saturday at 9.30am with the sale set to start at 10.30am. Any and all
items accepted.

For updates, please email us: blueskin@hotmail.com or telephone our
secretary Paul Clements: 482 2640.

11 February 2010

Blueskin Bay radio news for Friday Feb 12

Puketapu Radio presents Blueskin Bay local news in association with blueskin.co.nz

The Waitati Open Orchard group is holding a village wander tomorrow afternoon. Starting at 1pm from the library, the wander will take in the library, school and riverside bank on Orokonui Rd. The plan is to talk about the trees there, their care and what other trees people might like planted in these areas. It’s a bit of a social occasion too, with a picnic planned for mid-afternoon. All welcome.

The first WEGgies Harvest Market is on Sunday week from 10.30am. It will be held at the Old Waitati Store on Harvey St. Sellers with locally produced items for sale are most welcome to have a stand. Buyers will be most especially welcome. Items for sale will include plants, preserves and produce, plus any other food items people care to bring along. If you have items you would care to donate to a WEGie fundraising stand, please bring them along to the market or drop them of at the Village Potager, corner Doctors Point Road and Foyle Street.

Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson is holding his monthly clinic in Waitati on Monday. He meets constituents at the Blueskin Library at 2.30.

Locals are back at the movies on Tuesday night when the Waitati Film Society gets back in action after the summer break. First up is the Swedish movie As It Is In Heaven, when a world-famous conductor returns to his childhood village in search of peace and quiet. He takes up the role of local choir master which sets in motion an interesting chain of events. Movies are shown at Bill’s place on Orokonui Rd from 8pm.

The Blueskin Bay local volunteer news website can be found at www.blueskin.co.nz.

Consultation Meeting about Warrington Beach and Reserve

By Geraldine Tait

The Warrington Reserve Group are organising a public meeting
to be held at the Warrington Hall on Thursday 18 February
7.30pm. The meeting is an opportunity to find out more about
the DCC's Draft Coastal Dune Reserves Management Plan. How will it
effect our area? Staff from the DCC will present what is the
purpose of the management plan, how it will be implemented,
and how to make a submission. Please come along and hear
about plans for trees, wildlife, dogs, facilities and
coastal erosion.

--
Ā ā Ē ē Ī ī Ō ō Ū ū
From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media:
voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff,
Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished.
If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

05 February 2010

Warrington School's big project for this year is the upgrade of the
court area and
entrance way. We have plans drawn up for both, with the entrance way
proposal already on the noticeboard and website.

Meanwhile, the School has had requests from families seeking
before-school or after-school care for their children. If you can
assist or know of someone who could
please let the office know.

St Barnabas Church in Warrington will hold their last late-morning
11.30am service this Sunday, 7 February. The church service will be
followed by a shared lunch.

From Sunday 14 February (St Valentine's Day), St Barnabas Church will
hold their Sunday services at the earlier time of 9.15am instead.

A new broadband internet service will be available at Blueskin Bay
Library from the end of February.

Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa or "APNK" is a free access broadband
internet service with webcams, headsets, USB ports and card slots, and
a wireless connection for laptops, phones or other devices.

Users can connect to e-mail and social networking sites, create
documents, listen to CDs, watch DVDs, edit audio files, download
music, use Internet banking, upload and download using CDs, DVDs, USB
flash drives or memory cards and take photos.

28 February 2010

26 February 2010

25 February 2010

23 February 2010

22 February 2010

21 February 2010

18 February 2010

15 February 2010

14 February 2010

11 February 2010

05 February 2010

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