Blueskin Bay FM 88.2: July 2011

25 July 2011

Waitati Residents Help Out "Refugees"

By the editors

More than 200 stranded motorists and their passengers crowded into the
Waitati Hall on Sunday evening July 24, when snow closed State Highway
One.
Local residents rallied round to feed the "refugees" and to offer them
accommodation. Families and the elderly were housed at the Maori
education centre, Te Whare Arohanui, while the remainder bedded down
in the hall, the library (which has underfloor heating) and the fire
station.
At the hall volunteers (L to R) Jaya Verma, Karen Clements, Jeevan
Verma, Donna, Craiston, Jack Monaghan, Chris Robinson and Daisy Forest
were flat out cooking and heating up pasta, soup, potatoes and other
food locals had dropped off.
Waitati Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Jeff Burrow was
"stoked" at the way the community responded, with one resident
ferrying a TV set to the hall in a wheelbarrow, so the youngsters
there could watch DVDs.

Photo: Lynnaire Johnston

23 July 2011

Market on the Move

By Liz Abbott and Rudie Verhoef

Coast Road Market is reopening this spring in the grounds of
Warrington School with its first market on Sunday 4 September from
11am – 2pm.
The market began in Seacliff three years ago as a community support
activity in the grounds of Coast Road Retreat. Organisers Liz Abbott
and Rudie Verhoef are excited about the market's new location five
kilometres down the road.
"We really appreciate the generosity of the Warrington School
community in giving us the opportunity to keep this monthly community
event alive out here along the coast at such a fantastic venue," they
say.
The school grounds in Ferguson Street include a large tennis court,
playground and covered verandahs while there is plenty of extra
parking at Warrington Beach, five minutes walk from the school.
The market will continue on the first Sunday of every month from 11am
to 2pm with its unique blend of food, coffee, art, craft, prints,
pakoras, plants, produce, preserves and more.
Free stalls continue to be available and children's stalls are
particularly welcome.
For dates and details phone 027 781 1799 or visit
www.market.betterthannormal.co.nz

Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust

By Scott Willis

Preparing for BRCT's Annual General Meeting (I know, most people like
to avoid them) has been a fascinating experience for the Trust (the
AGM was held on 27 July). Reflecting on a busy past 12 months is a
little like sitting back with a cup of tea and reviewing a good job.
Yes, there could always have been improvements here or there, but
overall it has been satisfying to see the consolidation that has
occurred, the transition to a new office and the range of successful
projects.
Highlights of the past 12 months have to be:
1). The fantastic progress on developing a wind cluster for Blueskin
Bay, and associated with that all the new opportunities opening up
around 'Blueskin Power' as a community energy project with many
clean-technologies.
2). Waitati Open Orchards (a branch of the Weggies) is thriving, while
BRCT is happy to see the Blueskin Bays Edible Gardens work has now
become a longer term funded position at Waitati School with 'World
Wide Fund for Nature' support, ensuring a deepening of the
enviroschool programme, (all other Weggie activities are also in good
heart).
3). Get-The-Train had a successful 'Car Free Day' in 2010 and has
maintained its lobbying role.
4). Blueskin Low Oil Commuting had a great launch on the Global Day of
Action on Climate Change (10/10/10) last year and has become a quiet
network of bicycle commuters and a lobbying force for the strategic
transport zone of Blueskin Bay.
5). Finally, BRCT was proud to be associated with the development of
the Waitati PTA's "Blueskin Community Directory" in March this year
(have you got your copy yet?).
Most recently, BRCT received notification of funding success for the
Waitati Open Orchards, thanks to the ANZ Staff Foundation. BRCT also
secured a contract from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Authority for community engagement, and is anticipating learning the
results of another funding application in support of the energy
project.
A deep winter occasion for BRCT supported groups and friends to get
together will be (as I write) on 30 July, when BRCT patron Jeanette
Fitzsimons is in Waitati for a catch-up visit and to have a look
around all that is going on in our wider Blueskin community. In other
Trust news, Simon Sheppard has stepped down from his role as treasurer
to focus on his university work. BRCT thanks Simon for his valuable
input over the past year and wishes him the best in exams and study.
And BRCT volunteer Justine Molloy, having found cosy BRCT homes for
'the lost files', has now joined the Puketeraki Marae team, leaving
the BRCT office with clear desks and straightforward files (long may
it last!). Thank you Justine for all your help!
Established in 2008, BRCT aims to assist groups and individuals in
Blueskin Bay address the opportunities and vulnerabilities associated
with Climate Change and Peak Oil.
Contact: 03 482 2048.

Waitati Energy Project

By Scott Willis

Action on Energy
Last month I wrote about the Democratising Energy Hui and gave a
little detail on feed-in tariffs. Since then, copies of the hui
presentations have been loaded onto the website
(www.transitiontowns.org.nz/waitati, follow link to Blueskin Power/WEP
– a brief summary of what was achieved is there, too). Now, a small
national working group on feed-in tariffs has been established with
participation from the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust, Nelson
Environment Centre, 350 Aotearoa, and Refit-NZ. We're anticipating
some further input as the working group establishes policy
recommendations and already this is a very positive development given
the abject lack of detail in the glossy 2011 New Zealand Energy
Strategy on just how we can build a more sustainable energy future.

Work on preparing posters and material about the Blueskin Wind Cluster
project to take to all communities within the Blueskin zone continues
apace – though you all would have noticed that we weren't able to go
public in July, mainly due to lack of resources. Keep your eyes on
this space and, meanwhile, the story on local energy just keeps
getting better. Of note is the Dunedin City Council's recent 'Solar
Promise' (ODT, Tues, 12 Jul 2011), in which Mayor Dave Cull signed up
alongside other councils to promote solar energy. At the same time the
DCC is working on developing a energy efficiency programme offering
targetted rates to allow people to invest in clean technology, such as
solar hot water and insulation and improve their household's energy
profile. I am hopeful there will be a neat marriage between
opportunities we establish and DCC support packages to make access
simple.

Speaking of solar, it appears the panel that allows electronic
transmission of wind data on the wind tower at Porteous Hill has not
been up to the job recently (hence the limited Wind Rose this month)
and some minor maintenance is required. We are still collecting all
the data, it's just that to conserve energy there's been a pause in
data transmission to our friends at Our Wind Limited for a few weeks.
Meanwhile, Laurence and Margaret Hay have been wonderful 'keepers' for
the tower, maintaining stock fences, ensuring all guy-lines are firm
and generally keeping an eye on things.

Energy Advice
The Waitati Energy Project as it has grown and morphed into a Blueskin
community energy project has developed a deep body of knowledge and
rich relationships relating to energy. We work from and for the
Blueskin community and receive a large number of requests for
information and advice on energy matters which are answered as and
when possible. However, we don't currently have any resources to do
this formally. The Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust has recognised
that there is potential for a new staff member to provide community
energy advice and developing our capacity to deliver results will be a
focus over the next 12 months, alongside the existing work on the wind
cluster and community energy.

Contact: 03 482 2048, email waitatienergy@gmail.com

Orokonui Ecosanctuary

By Sue Hensley

Orokonui has been favoured by two visiting VIPs and a third is due in
September.

First was the internationally acclaimed scientist Jane Goodall. Her lecture
at the Otago University was inspiring and covered not just her
groundbreaking research with chimpanzees, but development of grass roots
programmes ensuring the long term sustainability of populations of both
chimps and local people as well as habitat. Field work remains important to
her and while at Orokonui she met with conservation manager Elton Smith
about the Ecosanctuary project and with Kakapo recovery team members about
their work.

Another well known name Lucy Lawless (Xena Warrior Princess), now a
Greenpeace ambassador, also came on a mission to find out about the work at
Orokonui and her remarks can be seen in the visitor's book. Lucy's sharp
vision spied a jewelled gecko and a saddleback on her walk inside the fence
(Elton's expertise perhaps helped a little!).

The third and again internationally renowned visitor, mostly for his bad
behavior with Stephen Fry and screened on YouTube, is Sirocco. He will be
staying at Orokonui during September and will hold regular audiences
for his adoring public. A special viewing pen, living pen and food
preparation facilities are being constructed for this very special kakapo.
Once on the brink of extinction these birds now number 131. The 14-year old
Sirocco was hand raised and became imprinted on humans. He has shown no sign
of interest in the ladies and has become instead an ambassador for kakapo
conservation. He totally believes he is a person and enjoys interacting with
groups.

Species that have been reintroduced appear to be holding on so far with
field workers regularly seeing robins and visitors seeing lots of sign of
kiwi probe holes and scat. A couple of young (all dark) saddleback seem to
be staying in the top area and are also occasionally seen by visitors.

News and events such as night tours, Sirocco tours, mini film festivals and
social/ band evenings can be found on www.orokonui.org.nz and facebook.

The Visitor Centre is open daily 9.30am – 4.30pm with the cafe open 10am – 4pm.

21 July 2011

Blueskin Garden Club

By Glenys Clements

Blueskin Garden Club's next meeting will be held on August 11 at 12 Station Rd,
Warrington at 7.30 pm. The theme will be "Travels in South America
with Lyne Carlyle" and the evening will include a food tasting. There
will also be the usual vegetable and flower competition.
The following month the Spring Flower Show will be held at the Waitati
Hall, on September 24 and 25. Entry classes will be published in next
month's "Blueskin News" and schedules will be
available at Blueskin Library, Blueskin Nurseries and Blueskin Store
from early in September.
Garden Club enquiries to Lyn 482 2896 or Glenys 482 2640; come and join us.

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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".

18 July 2011

Matariki celebrations at Warrington School [with photo of stilt-walkers]

by June Anderson

The evening was crisp and clear as the families of Warrington School
began their traditional Matariki celebrations. Drumming, whistling and
singing drew people from their homes to join the parade as it
converged from the four corners of Warrington. Guided by the dim,
silent lanterns and lofty stilt walkers, the parade made its way into
the school grounds. Lighted lanterns formed a perimeter around the
tennis courts as families and community folk watched performances by
the students. Classes sang their favourite songs heartily, the school
drumming group beat in unison, and Room 1 performed rhythmical
routines with their rakau. The evening finished with the sharing of
supper as the students enjoyed playing tag in the dark.

Fair trade, trading fairly

By Mary Locker and Elsa Neuman

On Tuesday 21 June, we set off for Otago Girls' High School for a talk
by Harriet Lamb, Head of Campaigns at the World Development Movement.
She talked to us about the importance of the fair trade organisation,
which has changed the lives of so many people so far.

Fair trade ensures that farmers get a fair deal for their products (2
or 3 times the price they usually get) so they have enough money to
live on plus a bit extra.
Harriet Lamb told us a few stories about how much fair trade had done
for people. Here is one of them.

In Malawi, a place in Africa, there was a village where the people had
to walk 1.5 kilometres to a river to get water. The river was infested
with crocodiles; one person a year got attacked, and the water wasn't
even clean!

Because of fair trade, they got extra money and spent it on a water
pump in the village. Another problem was the straw huts they lived in,
which leaked when it rained. So next time the village had enough money
they bought bits of corrugated iron and put it on the huts so they had
proper roofs. With the next extra money they got electricity in the
huts so the danger of fire was decreased.

It really is amazing what fair trade has done for poor farmers in
developing countries.
She told us how much power children have over big companies.
Apparently they really listen to children who write letters to them.

There are still farmers waiting in line to become fair trade farmers
but they can't unless we buy more fair trade products. So it is very
important to buy as many fair trade products as you can so you can
play a part in making life better for others.
Fair trade rocks!

Trouble with the goblins [Full version -- delete earlier copy. Thanks. LH]

by Rammy El Dessouky

In winter at 1 a.m. everyone was sleeping.
The snow was falling heavily like big balloons on to the frosty ground.
The goblin was a bad guy; he told the snow to fall.
He was happy the flakes were so big.

The chicken was sleeping in the hen house. By 4 a.m. the hen house was
covered in snow.
At 7:10 a.m. I heard from the chicken house "Peck, peck" and "Peck".

I was so shocked I fell out of bed.
I looked out of my window and saw the hen house covered in snow.
I raced for the shovel and got my gloves.
I clambered through the snow to the hen house. I dug and dug and dug.
Finally I saw the hen house door.

I gave the hens some food.
The hen laid a golden egg and I was flabbergasted!
Suddenly the hen started to talk to me, 'I am going to the king of the
goblins to give him the golden egg to feed to the other goblins. This
will make the goblins good, and stop the snow'. Then he flew away.

One hour later it was snowing small flakes, and I heard a "peck, peck"
at my window.
My hen was back.

Trouble with the goblins

by Rammy El Dessouky

In winter at 1 a.m. everyone was sleeping.
The snow was falling heavily like big balloons on to the frosty ground.
The goblin was a bad guy he told the snow to fall.
He was happy the flakes were so big.

The chicken was sleeping in the hen house. By 4 a.m. the hen house was
covered in snow.
At 7:10 a.m. I heard from the chicken house "Peck, peck" and "Peck".

I gave the hens some food.
The hen laid a golden egg and I was flabbergasted!

E.coli levels prompt farmer to fence stream

by Florence Sorrel

A Warrington property owner has decided to fence off a small section
of his property as a public area to protect and provide a filter for
the small stream which runs through it. Richard Somerville was
surprised at the high E.coli levels in the stream, and when approached
by local photographer Laura Blake with a proposal for an area of
native trees and plants to neutralise agricultural waste and stock
effluent, he was happy to co-operate.

A fence was needed to stop cattle eating the plants. To help raise
funds the board of trustees of Warrington School donated $500 and also
organised a raffle. Working bees are organised to control weeds and
clear the stream, with the next working bee on 24 September. Also, a
public meeting will be held on 26 August at Warrington School to
discuss plans.

WARRINGTON SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Casual Vacancy for an Elected Trustee

A casual vacancy has occurred on the board of trustees for an elected
parent representative.

The board has resolved under section 105 of the Education Act 1989 to
fill the vacancy by selection.

If ten percent or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the
board, within 28 days of this notice being published, to hold a
by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.

Any eligible voter who wishes to ask the board to hold a by-election
should write to:

Chairperson
Board of Trustees
Warrington School
CMB 14085
Warrington 9449

By: 1st September 2011

Blueskin Bay FM 88.2