Children scratch in the sand with driftwood as two crowds stand facing each other and a southeasterly on Awaroa beach.
Split into locals and visitors they come together in waiata to mark the start of a new era for the remote inlet.
A red-and-white checked picnic blanket is lifted to reveal a small symbol of an enormous achievement.
There, between the sea grass, is a familiar green sign with yellow writing: “Department of Conservation, Abel Tasman National Park.”
Hundreds journeyed out by boat or kayak to witness the final step in an unbelievable journey to buy the beach for New Zealand.
Nearly 40,000 Kiwis gave a little in an online crowdfunding effort, backed by Stuff.co.nz which raised $2 million in a matter of months.
Campaign runners Duane Major and Adam Gard’ner said Awaroa’s purchase evoked a ‘‘telethon feel’’ of what was possible when communities rallied behind a cause.
Paul Morgan, whose rangatira occupied Awaroa prior to 1840, was pleased to be there ‘‘150 years later celebrating a buy back’’ but said korero about its future must continue.
Environment minister Nick Smith said Awaroa’s addition to the Abel Tasman National Park honoured the spirit behind Ngati Tuwharetoa chief Te Heuheu Tukino’s idea to establish New Zealand’s first national park 125 years ago.
(The Nelson Mail, Monday, July 11th, 2016)
Homeowners are being warned this may be as low as interest rates are going to go.
The deals on offer from New Zealand’s major banks are at historical lows.
According to mortgagerates.co.nz, the median one-year rate on offer from the banks is 4.69 per cent. For two years, borrowers can take out a median rate of 4.75 per cent.
But ASB and Kiwibank have now moved to increase their two-year rate to 4.29 per cent, and some commentators say it could be the start of a slow rise across the board.
One of the key reasons is a change of tone from the Reserve Bank.
Deputy governor Grant Spencer’s speech on Thursday made it clear that the bank is worried about house prices. It considers that low interest rates are one of the factors adding heat to the market.
That has led some to revise their predictions for the official cash rate.
Mortgage adviser Craig Pope said he was starting to suggest clients lock in longer-term rates. ‘‘There’s so many external factors out there that are affecting things, it’s quite a volatile time. I’m telling clients now might be a good time to fix the bulk of their lending if they have been hanging on for a further drop.’’
(The Nelson Mail, Monday, July 11th, 2016)
Renovations are underway at the old Radio Network house to give it a ‘‘new lease on life’’.
The Nelson English Centre has bought the Church St building and will move in by the end of September.
Centre director James Upton said he was excited for the renovations to be finished so he could reveal its new look.
‘‘This has been a major transformation job, it’s probably about a half a million dollar renovation.
Upton is passionate about being able to add to the Church St environment with the renovated building.
He plans to have a room on the bottom floor to open out onto the street to make room for a retail space.
‘‘This is the part I’m really proud of because I made the decision that we should open up to Church St because we want to see Church St go ahead,’’ Upton said.
(The Nelson Mail, Tuesday, July 12th, 2016)
A review of Waahi Taakaro Golf Club management could lead to fee increases for the council-run course.
Nelson City Council is responsible for the course and will undergo final consultation with the club members and nonmembers before a new list of charges and rules is set.
A report presented to councillors last Thursday stated a range of ‘‘long-running issues’’ with the club could be resolved with the introduction of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
It stated officers would consider the removal of concession tickets for non-club members and replace them with 10 and 20 round passes to cover green fees. By doing this, however, players who did not want to become members would face higher fees.
Councillors heard the proposed changes would see course green fees remain the same at $18 for nine holes and $23 for eighteen holes. Juniors pay $7.
The new MOU sought to clarify responsibilities around the club usage for the golf course which was a welcome change, said club manager Gordon Davidson.
Davidson said since the club opened in the 1970s members never had a clear outline from council about the use of the public grounds.
(The Nelson Mail, Wednesday, July 13th, 2016)
A glimmer of hope appeared for the supporters who are fighting to save an historic grandstand in Golden Bay.
President of the A&P Association Duncan McKenzie stood up at the Golden Bay Community Board meeting in Takaka on Tuesday with a surprise announcement.
McKenzie said the association would donate more of the grounds to the Tasman District Council for carparking at no extra cost, subject to approval at the next meeting.
The association’s offer will go to the council.
After the meeting, Golden Bay Shared Recreation Facility committee member Sara Chapman said it was a big step for the A&P Association to take responsibility for the structural integrity of the grandstand building.
The decision to modify or demolish the existing building, which includes the grandstand, clubrooms, kitchen, bar and squash courts rests with Heritage NZ after it was discovered to have been built before 1900.
The building is earmarked for demolition to make way for a carpark as part of the Bay’s new multi-million dollar recreation facility.
(The Nelson Mail, Thursday, July 14th, 2016)
A revamped central Nelson petrol station is on track to reopen in September.
The BP station on Haven Rd was demolished to make way for a new BP Connect that will open 24-hours a day. The upgrade follows the revamp of the Richmond BP outlet.
BP communications and external affairs manager Shelley Brady said the rebuild at Haven Rd was needed.
The store will also have a Wild Bean Cafe on site with updated bathrooms.
‘‘We want to create a one-stop shop for our customers,’’ Brady said.
The store will open on September 28 at 6am.
Construction manager Jim Verney said the building was progressing nicely.
The new upgrade will secure 20 jobs with some of those positions going to previous staff.
(The Nelson Mail, Thursday, July 14th, 2016)
Support grew on Thursday for the retention of a historic grandstand in Golden Bay when the museum society board threw its weight behind a push to keep it.
The building is earmarked for demolition to make way for a car park as part of a multimillion dollar recreation facility under construction. However, a group of people are trying to save the grandstand and its status as a historic building is to be determined by Heritage New Zealand.
(The Nelson Mail, Friday, July 15th, 2016)
Nelson’s Church St businesses are excited by plans to make the street more pedestrian friendly with more outdoor dining and widened footpaths.
Firms on the central Nelson street want to revitalise the area from a ‘‘servants access’’ into a more vibrant hospitality and business hub.
The Nelson City Council has approved $75,000 in this year’s draft annual plan to work with interested parties and develop a design for the street. It has also agreed to make construction of the upgrade a priority in future long term plans with any updates on design plans to be brought back to council to approve.
Among the concepts being worked on are more space for outdoor dining, improved paving and raised planters.
There are also proposals to widen the footpaths, upgrade lighting and improve the entrance and exit to the street for pedestrians, and narrow the entrance for vehicles.
The cost of the improvements is estimated to be between $400,000 to $500,000. Business owners and landowners said they might contribute to some costs associated with creating the outdoor dining area.
(The Nelson Mail, Friday, July 15th, 2016)
Nelson homeowners will not be able to install new woodburners, although 1600 Stoke, Brook and Atawhai residents will receive low emission burners as Nelson City Council released an independent commissioners’ decision on changes to its woodburner policy.
The initial plan change proposed to allow Ultra Low Emmission Burners (ULEBs) in airsheds B2 around Stoke and C around the Brook and Atawhai immediately, and made future provision for ULEBs in airsheds A - near Washington Valley and the Hospital - and B1 around Tahunanui, subject to air quality improvements.
After considering all submissions, the commissioners’ decision accepted the proposal and supported an additional 1000 ULEBs in airsheds B2 and an additional 600 in airshed C.
These would be permitted in new homes, homes without burners, or where replacing an authorised burner. However, it removed the future provision for ULEBs in airsheds A and B1, unless replacing an existing authorised woodburner.
The panel was satisfied that the plan change would not erode the ambient air quality of airsheds B2 and C and that the council had listened to the community in trying to permit ULEBs in airsheds A and B1, but thought that it was better to wait until air quality had improved.
Councillor Tim Skinner had lobbied for the use of woodburners as a cost-effective heating source for the last three years and was dismayed by the final outcome.
He called the decision ‘‘arrogant’’ and said it had failed to take into account the large amount of support for woodburners over the ULEBs, especially in areas of Nelson where it was most needed.
The council is required to keep a register of ULEBs, and a waiting list for those wanting to install one and will display a list of authorised ULEBs on their website. The decision is subject to a 30 working day appeal period and the council recommended that people wait until after this time before applying for consent to install a ULEB.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, July 16th, 2016)
“My optimism wears heavy boots
and is loud.”
Henry Rollins