April 2015
Kite festival huge success
The third Otaki Kite Festival was a resounding success with “perfect” conditions over the whole weekend, drawing thousands of spectators and kite flyers from around the wider region. Twenty master kite makers and fliers from around New Zealand attended inclduing two of Australia’s best known designers and makers who also ran kite making workshops.
News
Local Women Supporting Cambodian School Libraries
Fourteen school libraries, a teachers’ conference and a farewell function for a school principal – Helen Walch and Judith Miller’s recent visit to Cambodia was definitely not a leisurely holiday. The two local women are trustees for Books for Cambodia, a small charitable trust that supports the development of some rural school libraries in two Cambodian provinces.
Great Gravel Grab
The annual Great Gravel Grab on the Otaki River bank was another resounding success, with over 250 car, truck and trailer loads of gravel and boulders being taken “home” for a wide variety of home garden projects.
Gardening
Developing a drought tolerant garden
Over the last four years in Otaki there have been long periods during summer that have been very hot and dry. Whilst this is great for spending time with the kids at the beach it can be challenging for gardens particularly for those in the Kapiti beach communities.
Bulbs for spring
Most spring-flowering bulbs can be planted from mid-February through to May. Choose a sunny spot – most spring bulbs need at least half a day of sun to flower happily, and loosen soil with a fork before planting. If you have heavy clay, dig sand or compost into the top layer of soil and, as a general rule, plant 2-3 times as deep as the height of the bulb.
Trinity Farm at Easter
Forget chocolate at Easter, indulge in some art for your garden!
Trinity Farm is hosting the second Heritage Arts & Crafts Show at Easter with...
Growing Tomatoes the Watsons Way
At the annual Kapiti Home and Garden Show, local firm Watsons’ star tomato grower gave a demonstration of how the experts grow tomatoes in small spaces. Damon Braddock assisted by KCDC's Green Gardner Hannah Zwartz showed us a cunning device – the old number 8 bent wire trick – growing many tomato plants in pots contained within a large plastic container.
Thumbs up, Thumbs down
Thumbs up
Otaki’s Manihera Tehei — top scoring Maori language student in Year 13 winning an outstanding scholarship- To all those who ‘Shave for a Cure’
- Otaki College being powered by the sun
- Otaki Sunsets
- New Café at the beach
- Save the Capital Connection Group http://www.savethecapitalconnection.nz/
Thumbs down
To the rubbish dumpers who will not use the receptacles provided, or the Refuse Centre. The community bears the cost of your rubbish!- The dumpers of fish heads and bones by the Waitohu Stream
Taking Ōtaki's Pulse
Cancer Society
Anyone affected by cancer, whether they are the patient or support person is welcome to come to our Support Group Meeting, held on 3rd Monday of the month 2pm, Gertrude Atmore Supper Rooms, Memorial Hall, Aotaki Street.
Keeping our Kids Safe — Children’s Health Team
Since this team was formed in The Otaki health team’s vision remains a violence free Otaki population by 2040. Family Violence Intervention screening will start at Otaki Medical in MKay 2015. Our vision is for all people in Otaki to live a healthy fulfilled life; and any money currently spent on family violence intervention will be freed up to be spent on other health needs.
History
From the Otaki Mail, March 18, 1935
When Noel Coward, brilliant young English writer, launched his sensational stage success “Cavalcade”, dramatic critics said he had borrowed from the technique of making films. He had used kaleidoscopic symbolism, the close-up and panorama. In their screen play of the subject, which will screen its grand return season to-morrow, Fox Films are paying back with interest; they put “Cavalcade” where it really belongs – into the fluent medium of action – the movie.
OTAKI MUSEUM: The exhibition Otaki Remembers World War I is in...
Otaki Remembers World War I focuses on Gallipoli, as 25 April 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove. After eight months of battles and heavy losses, the troops had to be evacuated. Gallipoli was a costly failure; the Allies suffered 141,547 casualties of which 44,150 died; Turkey had 251,309 casualties of which 86,692 died. New Zealand had around 8,000 casualties, of which 2,779 died. Otaki just after the war is also featured.
Life
Help for separating parents
How the family justice system works changed in April 2014, but separating parents are still unsure how to go about resolving their disputes over...
Kia ora from the Otaki Public Library – Te Wharepukapuka o...
One Night in Italy by Lucy Diamond; Time and Time Again by Ben Elton;Recipes from My French Kitchen by Allyson Gofton,The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
Business, industry & farming
Atea Fraser returns to Ngā Purapura
I first met te Rangiatea (Atea) Fraser 3 years ago, when I joined the gym at Ngā Purapura. He was completing a 3 year course at Te Wānanga -O-Raukawa in Sport & Exercise Science. I was an elderly pakeha in awe of Ngā Purapura’s wonderful new exercise complex, wanting to take advantage of it’s fitness-enhancing potential.
Doggy Diets – The Raw-Meat Fad
Just like human diets, canine diets go in and out of fashion. These days the fad is the raw-meat diet. Feeding these diets has become an increasing trend among pet owners, on the basis that they are more ‘natural’. However
Sports, arts, music & entertainment
Kite festival huge success
The third Otaki Kite Festival was a resounding success with “perfect” conditions over the whole weekend, drawing thousands of spectators and kite flyers from around the wider region. Twenty master kite makers and fliers from around New Zealand attended inclduing two of Australia’s best known designers and makers who also ran kite making workshops.
Waitohu Tryathlon
It was a hard slog for some of the younger children at Waitohu School as they ran, cycled and swam their way through the annual tryathlon or duathlon of run and swim.
KCDC Update
KCDC Meetings for April 2015
DayDateMeetingTimeVenue
Wednesday
1 April
Open Day – Long Term Plan
7.00 pm
Ōtaki College, 233 Mill Road, Ōtaki
Thursday
2 April
Corporate Business Committee
10.00 am
Council Chambers Ground Floor, 175 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu
Wednesday
8...
Otaki Community Board
Public Speaking
Otaki Beach resident, Ann Lawler, spoke to several issues about provision of equipment and upgrading facilities at the beach, particularly land for the...
Environment
Birds and Bees, Flowers and Trees!
Last night I had the pleasure of attending the monthly meeting of the Otaki Buzz Club.A group of men and women united by their passion for Bees. Most have hives, some like me are gathering information and getting up to speed before taking the plunge.
Transition Town Otaki: Sustainability in action
Food forest, sustainable gardening, permaculture, locavore—words once unfamiliar to gardeners now crop up regularly in the media and in gardening conversations.All are talking about a way of gardening that is both productive and efficient, making the best use of soil, sun and water. Planting intelligently with a mixture of different trees, shrubs and crops and using chooks, worms or other animals to keep the garden fertile and abundant without expensive fertilisers and pesticides.
Our people
Sixty Years for the Clenchs
When Tony Clench first met Caroline (then) McMillan in Glasgow in 1953, they never guessed they would be celebrating 60 years together on the...
College Heads Settle In
A new year and a new team of student leaders have settled into their roles at Otaki College, with the head boy, Tevita Kata and head girl Clare McInerney-Heather at the helm.