Featured

Otaki Menzshed Formally Opened » June 2014

A crowd of over 50 people enjoyed the Winter sunshine last week for the opening on the MenzShed in the old Nurses' quarters at the old Maternity Hospital. Menzsheds are a nation-wide organisation, bringing men together in a community space to share their skills.

News

Ōtaki Innovation Hub hosts Careers Expo

An Expo highlighting careers in technology and innovation was hosted by Council on 14 June at the Innovation Hub in Ōtaki. Around 150 adults and students attended the event, which was organised in partnership with Ōtaki and Paraparaumu Colleges, Palmerston North’s Universal College of Learning (UCOL) and the Ministry of Education.

Matariki: a Tme for Reflection and Assembly

Matariki is the Maori name for the cluster of stars known as Pleiades. The ascent of Matariki in late May or June signals the change of season and heralds the start of the Maori New Year.

Gardening

A great winter herb

The soup and stew season is upon us again — time to savour chervil, a stalwart for winter use, and one which deserves to be grown more widely. Chervil enhances all basic winter standbys, such as casseroles, soups and stews, as well as some of our favourite cheese and egg dishes — it makes a great substitute for parsley in scrambled eggs. It’s also one of the best culinary herbs for making herb butter because of its clean, fresh flavour.

Focus on growing asparagus

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable with a delicious taste and delicate texture, but shop-bought spears can be expensive, and stems are often disappointingly tough and tasteless. If you’re planning to grow your own, it’s worth putting in time preparing the ground to give them a flying start in life. A sunny or partially shaded spot is ideal, with a light, free-draining but moisture retentive soil.

Thumbs up, Thumbs down

Thumbs up

R-Thumbsup

  • Carol Ward for organising the Otaki Business Women’s Network since its inception
  • Matariki and all the forthcoming celebrations
  • Three College kids who helped an elderly woman home from the supermarket last week.
  • Two new shops: Clocks on the highway, Pianos downtown.

Thumbs down

  • R-ThumbsdownGreater Wellington Regional Council for its failure to respond promptly to residents concerns about the Waitohu Stream, leaving the beach in a god-awful mess
  • The person who destroyed 4 young Norfolk Pines on the beachfront – is this an opportunity for some more appropriate planting?

Taking Ōtaki's Pulse

Managing Stress in Farming Communities

While some level of stress has always been part of farming, today’s farmers face many issues that play a part in keeping their stress...

A Day in the Life of MidCentral Health

Every day this is what MCDHB does for our people: 1 person is admitted to the Intensive Care department 2 people are admitted to the Critical Care Unit 6 babies...

History

Otaki Historical Society » June 2014

The speaker for the meeting held on 3 June was Fiona Walker, talking about Golden Coast Poultry in Te Horo Beach Road.  This was started...

Otaki Museum » June 2014

The Rotary exhibition has finished and the museum will be closed until 5 August while a new exhibition is being installed. This will commemorate 100 years since the beginning of the First World I.

Life

The Ōtaki Public Library

Kia ora from the Ōtaki Public Library — Te Wharepukapuka o Ōtaki The Last Maopo by Tania Te Rangingangana Simpson The Last Maopo tells the story of Wiremu Maopo, who...

Family Justice — how separated parents can resolve care disputes

New changes to the Family Court will affect how the Court can help separating parents (or other caregivers such as grandparents) who can’t agree...

Business, industry & farming

Managing Stress in Farming Communities

While some level of stress has always been part of farming, today’s farmers face many issues that play a part in keeping their stress...

New Otaki Opshop Supports Needy Animals: The Opportunity for Animals shop

A local charity has opened a new Opshop in Ōtaki. Opportunity for Animals sells fabulous second hand near-new fashions to raise money for abandoned and...

Sports, arts, music & entertainment

Rahui Kids Rugby Under Lights

Rahui rugby under 10 team go on attack in their attempt to get the ball from the tackled Paraparaumu player, while his team mates...

The Civic Chat

My son is involved in the movie industry, and with him I am interested in the art of making movies. The technology and skill...

KCDC Update

Like KCDC on Facebook

Council now has a Facebook page  Kāpiti residents are encouraged to like the page to get regular updates on issues in our District. Information...

Swamp and Waerenga Roads upgraded

Council’s annual footpath upgrade has seen roads in two areas of Ōtaki improved. The footpath in Waerenga Road has been upgraded with a smooth bitumen surface....

The Ōtaki water supply story

Questions are often raised by Ōtaki residents about their water supply. One is the suggestion ‘we shouldn’t pay for water because it’s free’. In fact, what...

Ōtaki Innovation Hub hosts Careers Expo

An Expo highlighting careers in technology and innovation was hosted by Council on 14 June at the Innovation Hub in Ōtaki. Around 150 adults and students attended the event, which was organised in partnership with Ōtaki and Paraparaumu Colleges, Palmerston North’s Universal College of Learning (UCOL) and the Ministry of Education.

Environment

FOTOR Arbor Day Planting

About 750 native trees, shrubs and grasses were planted near the Otaki River estuary on Arbor Day by Friends of the Otaki River, (FOTOR) 20 plus children from Otaki School and some special guests.

Our people

Mowbray Collectables – Forty Years in Otaki

While at Scots College in Wellington, John Mowbray realised that he could turn his own stamp collecting hobby into a money-making business. Fifty years later, he's still at it!

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