Port Tarakohe penguin protection approved

Little Blue Penguins in Golden Bay

 Tasman District Council Protection for port penguins

 A colony of Little Blue Penguins in Golden Bay is to get increased protection following a decision by Tasman District Council to construct a fence to limit access to their breeding grounds. 

At a meeting on Thursday 19 May Councillors agreed to approve the construction of a fence at Port Tarakohe following an approach from the Mōhua/Golden Bay Blue Penguin Trust. 

Initially it was proposed that a fence of around 80 metres long with a locked gate be constructed to exclude people from the Western Arm of the port’s breakwater.  

However following a round of public consultation, a proposal for two shorter, less visually intrusive fences with a gate controlled by a keypad or combination lock. 

Access for fishers will be available by a permit system but all dogs will be banned. Educational brochures will be supplied to those requiring access. 

The cost of construction of the fence is yet to be finalised but is expected to be less than $10,000 with the price of materials having already being met by the Mōhua/Golden Bay Blue Penguin Trust. 

The area will be monitored by the trust to measure the effectiveness of the protection measures and the arrangements will be reviewed by the Golden Bay Community Board every three years.

COMMENT FROM:

As the former Chair of the Mohua Blue Penguin Trust I would like to correct this article. That the Trust lobbied Council hard, but unsuccessfully for a card access gate for local fishers. You will see my letter in Friday's Golden Bay Weekly.

 

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Waimea College Thrilled For Students Who Won NZAquaBot Nationals - Wishing Them Well For International SeaPerch Competitions in USA

The NZAquaBots National Competitions, the Waimea College Narwhal - Matariki Winning Team for Tasman, students Caitlin Pilcher, Thorben Therkleson and  Brooke Robinson.  

Photo: Thanks to Ministry of Inspiration

ONE WEEK TO GO FOR TEAM FUNDING 

 Continuation of article from 17th May

Brooke Robinson, Thorben Therkleson and Caitlin Pilcher won their division in the NZ AquaBots National Competition at the Richmond's Aquatic Centre coming first overall beating 21 other NZ teams recently.  

They became the third TASMAN team that has made it to the finals of NZ AquaBots Nationals.

All three teenagers are now eligible to travel to Washington to compete in the International SeaPerch competitions, but only Thorben Therkleson and Caitlin Pilcher have decided to go to the International SeaPerch competition.

These two students have only a week before they leave and they still need funding towards their travels. 

Graeme Smith the Associate Principal of Waimea College said 

“Waimea College is thrilled that these young students have an amazing result, for their enthusiasm, their effort, and for their creative ideas.”

“All the Team had a real interest in science and hoped to be involved in the science field in their future.”

“The students had told me that they were keen to do something a bit different, something new that is not part of normal school and in an area of their passion. Talking of something different: the Team's name is “Narwhal” which came from a specific card in the card game they had been playing.”

“Also, the Team have called their BOT Matariki and painted in the southern sky because they wanted it to be New Zealand based.”

“The Team would also like to acknowledge one of their other members, Izzy Lodge, who could not attend the National event.”

“Waimea College is immensely proud of our students and wish them well in the USA.”

 

The Royal Society, of scientists and academics, usually funds these bright students for part of their travel costs, but recently they have had to withdraw from this funding. So funding for the trip to the International Finals in the USA is still underway for the team.

A Give-a little page (see the link below) has been set up for Thorben Therkleson and fellow classmate Caitlin Pilcher (both 15) to travel to the United States for the International SeaPerch Competition.

Here is the link to the Give-a-little page any amount helps:

Help Nelson teens get to the USA for a science and engineering competition.

QR Code for donations

The Team were part of a group selected for a Marine Biology and Engineering study camp. During this period the students learnt how to build, maintain, and pilot a ROV (remotely operated vehicle) their BOT Matariki, a tremendous feat in itself, but went on to learn about the oceans and the life within them.

The students were able to collect real world data while using their ROV for an international research project about marine biosecurity, a programme started by the Cawthron Institute of Science. Other experiments were able to be done and also the Team collected bio samples of eDNA to be analysed by the University of Otago.

The Narwhal - Matariki Team that went on to become the Tasman winners of the NZ AquaBots National Competition would like to thank their parents and all the other people involved in their studies and funding.

One USA teacher commented about the Ministry of Inspiration teaching programme “As a dedicated educator and a science lover, I have to say that the SeaPerch Program is giving me and my students the opportunity of a lifetime.  The program facilitates the learning of a wide variety of skills and gives science teachers a powerful tool to turn the learning experience of the students into an active, challenging and highly engaging one. In my past eight years as a science teacher, I had never experienced so much fun and excitement inside and outside my classroom.” 

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Autumn Photos

SOME AUTUMN SHOTS

Bush Creek Recreation Reserve Arrowtown. Autumn Photo Ray Therkleson

RICHMOND, TASMAN SAT 28 MAY 8.30AM

VERY CLEAR WITH LIGHT WIND BECOMING COLD IN RICHMOND, TASMAN. SAT 5.30PM 28 MAY.   LOOKING TOWARDS MAPUA, MOTUEKA AND TAKAKA GOLDEN BAY

It's Autumn and Richmond feels like Arrowtown with so many autumn leaves around. Take a look!

Richmond Tasman.  Photo Ray Therkleson

Richmond Tasman. Photo Ray Therkleson

Richmond Tasman. Photo Ray Therkleson

Richmond Tasman. Photo Ray Therkleson

Nelson. Photo Ray Therkleson.

Arrowtown. Photo Ray Therkleson

Arrowtown. Photo Ray Therkleson

Arrowtown Autumn Colour, Chinese Gold Miner's Village Creek.  Photo Ray Therkleson

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Comments:

Wonderful autumn colour!  (Unknown person) 22 May 2022

Community Funding Needed for NZAquaBots National Competition Winners so they can Compete in the United States

 

Brooke Robinson, Thorben Therkleson and Caitlin Pitcher, the Narwhal Team from Tasman, who won their division in the NZAquaBot National Competition and could now compete in the United States.    Photo: Thanks to Waimea Weekly

The funding for the Tasman winners of the New Zealand AquaBots Nationals Competition to attend the International SeaPerch Competitions held at the University of Maryland, Washington DC, has dried up and the TASMAN winners would like help with funding.

Brooke Robinson, Thorben Therkleson and Caitlin Pilcher won their division in the NZ AquaBots Nationals Competition at the Richmond's Aquatic Centre coming first overall beating 21 other NZ teams recently.  All three teenagers are now eligible to travel to Washington to compete in the International SeaPerch competitions.

Caitlin commented how she felt winning “It was very exciting and it was definitely very surprising. I don't think any of us expected it.”

Funding for this overseas trip was partly supplied by the Royal Society but Debbie Woodhall, the Royal Society Strategic Projects Advisor, said “Unfortunately I regret to advise that our funding for students to travel to international science and technology events has been suspended and I do not know what will happen for next year.  It may be that this will not continue into the future either.”

It is evident then that funding needs to be secured elsewhere to help the students attend their international competition.  So I am writing this article to ask you to give a helping hand to make sure our future young adults secure the funds necessary so our future scientists and engineers can go on their way to further learning and have an experience of a lifetime in the USA.

One could say that these teenage Waimea College Students have another battle on their hands to secure enough funding to be able to attend the International SeaPerch Competitions in June.

A Give-a little page (see the link below) has been set up for Thorben Therkleson and fellow classmate Caitlin Pilcher (both 15) who are the successful National Champions in their age group and have decided  to try and travel to the United States for the SeaPerch Competition.

Here is the link to the Give-a-little page any amount helps:

Help Nelson teens get to the USA for a science and engineering competition

QR Code for donations

What are the NZAquaBot National Competitions all about:

The competition is run and organised by the Ministry of Inspiration and briefly these are the items the students have to be involved in:

• Designing and building a submersible Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
• Piloting the ROV through a series of underwater challenges
• Creating an in-depth Technical design report
• In-person presentation explaining their engineering design choices   
• Creating a video outlining the team and their design principles

Thorben Therkleson, Brooke Robinson and Caitlin Pitcher, the Narwhal Team from Waimea College Tasman, Testing their equipment before the NZAquaBot National Championships.    Photo: Thanks to Waimea Weekly

Amy Cornelisen the NZAquaBot National Championship Coordinator and Organiser from the Ministry of Inspiration said “the NZAquaBot National Championship was held 26-27 March this year in two locations due to Covid, Rotorua and Richmond. Twenty-one teams battled it out in 4 water events and a scientific presentation.”

“Teams represented Northland, Auckland, Rotorua, Richmond, and Nelson. Four teams have qualified to compete in the International Sea Perch Challenge in June 2022 in the USA”

One of those teams is from Waimea College Tasman. This is the third TASMAN team that has made it to the international competition!

NZAquaBots started in TASMAN and this should be noted by the Tasman residents. From here it has spread around the entire country and even to Australia.

Thorben from the Narwhal Team commented how his team became interested in remote controlled vehicles, “Late last year some lucky students from around the top of the south were given the opportunity to participate in an engineering and science camp run by the University of Otago at Mistletoe Bay in the Queen Charlotte Sounds. During this camp, my team, and a few other teams constructed remote operated vehicles for underwater exploration and data gathering. So the camp at Mistletoe Bay was how we got started in remote control vehicle technically”

NZAquaBots goes beyond the local pool, it promotes the relevance of science and technology and broadens the community’s ability to engage in science and technology. The programme activities, including the building of remote controlled vehicles extend beyond youth by engaging families and the wider community.

The NZAquaBots National Competitions, the Narwhal Winning Team Caitlin Pitcher, Thorben Therkleson and  Brooke Robinson.  

Photo: Thanks to Ministry of Inspiration

The judges for the competition and mentors come from the local science industry such as: Cawthron Institute, Plant and Food Research, King Salmon and local science teachers. 

The competition always has an obstacle course and a presentation. The other water events change each year and reflect a NZ theme. This past year the theme was the Geothermal Geyser of Rotorua.

Participants learn design engineering, science-hydrodynamics, electronics, buoyancy, refraction, pressure, etc.. In addition as it is a team event students learn 21st century educational skills such as Communication, Creativity, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking.

The competition was not easy as Thorben commented “The hardest part of the competition was probably in the nationals when our motors didn't work so we were unable to participate in the first event of the competition. We then had to put together a new set of three motors and attach them to our ROV with just minutes to spare before the next event of the competition.”

“The Ministry of Inspiration (MOI),” Amy Cornelisen said, “Is a TASMAN-based charitable trust committed to offering students innovative and inspiring experiences through STEAMS programmes (science, technology, engineering, arts, maths, and society) and geared towards a participatory audience of ages 5 to 18, with an added leadership development component for the older students.”

What are the International SeaPerch Competitions:

The competitions are held at the University of Maryland, Washington DC. 

Over 140 teams are competing in the USA next month representing 9 different countries.The annual International SeaPerch Challenge is an invitation-only event open to teams that excel at registered regional competitions and earn a slot to compete in the season’s culminating event.

On land, teams show off their engineering skills through technical papers and presentations. In the pool, they navigate their SeaPerch through a series of obstacles inspired by the real world that test manoeuvrability, control, and utility. Each season has a new theme and a new set of competition tasks, challenging teams to expand on their original vehicle design.

Beyond the friendly rivalry, all competitions bring students together from different schools, states, and countries to form a supportive community.

The Tasman students, Caitlin Pilcher and Thorben Therkleson have written a whole technical report to take with them to the international competitions and it is amazing to read with the depth of knowledge these 15 year olds have achieved. I would like to print the whole report so you could read it for yourselves but they have the copyright.

Let's hope they can both make it to the United States and have a chance to win the International Competition.

Thorben commented about winning the National Competition and about future travel “Rather surprised, as we went into the competition just for fun with no intent at all of winning so coming home with the victory sure felt nice.”

About travel “ I’m not very excited at the thought of traveling overseas but I think that when the day comes around and I am about to get on the plane I will get very excited. The thought of going to America seems a bit unreal to me, but I do think it will be very awesome.”

Caitlin commented about travel “Its crazy that we have been given the opportunity of going to America and I am super excited to be going to America!” 

Thank you for giving a contribution to have these young adults achieve their dreams.

POST CONTINUED ON MAY 21

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Golden Bay initiative helps Tākaka pensioners into affordable housing

 

The opening of two pensioner flats in Tākaka this week has provided warm secure accommodation for two tenants, and shows the potential of partnerships between Council and private groups for addressing the housing crisis.

The newly-built cottages on Commercial Street are the result of a partnership between Tasman District Council and the Mohua Affordable Housing Trust and were officially opened on Friday April 22.

The houses are situated on previously unused Council-owned land behind the existing Galley Court flats. They were financed by the Trust who will own and maintain them for 35 years, after which ownership will be transferred to the Council to be added to the Council’s housing stock, which currently includes 101 pensioner cottages. The Council will select and manage the tenants.

The two bedroom 60-square metre houses were constructed by local Golden Bay builders, using local suppliers.

The homes meet the current building code and Healthy Homes standard, with external ramps for access, doors wide enough for wheelchairs and bathrooms especially designed for accessibility. They are equipped with brand new appliances and heat pumps.

Given the growing demand for accommodation in Golden Bay, the partnership between the Council and the Trust provided “a win-win situation for everyone” noted Trust Chair Dr. Christopher Bennett.

“Tasman District Council now has two high quality houses which has cost their ratepayers nothing to build and we get to 

help reduce the need for pensioner housing in Golden Bay.”

“Everyone in our team is grateful to help the people in our local community. There is a huge unmet need for affordable housing, and we have managed to help four families since starting our construction program ten months ago”.

Tasman Mayor Tim King said the opening of the new cottages was testament to a great initiative to support affordable accommodation in the district.

“We recognise that meeting housing demand throughout the country is no small undertaking and is something that will require a concerted effort from a number of organisations, including council – the work that the Trust and their financial backers are doing here in Golden Bay highlights what can be done with the opportunities available under current rules/legislation and they should be applauded.”

Golden Bay ward councillors Chris Hill and Celia Butler also acknowledged the “truly significant contribution” that the Trust was making to the Mohua/Golden Bay community in providing housing where it is needed.

“The vision to come up with a solution to the housing issues here has been inspiring, as has the ability to bring it to fruition effectively. Chris’s ability to work collaboratively with a range of other organisations has been impressive,” Chris said.

“I note that people from other areas have an eye on what’s happening here with a view to rolling out something similar for those that are struggling to find homes.”

Celia said it had been the case for some time that there has been a shortage of housing for older people in Golden Bay.

“Being so close to the town centre will provide many benefits. It is great to see the Golden Bay/Mohua Affordable Housing Project and Tasman District Council working in partnership to provide these two new dwellings on Council-owned land.”

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Nelson Pride Inc Announces Its 2022 Pride Week Program

 

NELSON PRIDE INC., ANNOUNCE.

Aimée Borlase, Chair of Nelson Pride Inc., has announced the program for Nelson Pride Week 2022. Pride Week is from the 23 April to the 2 May. 

Nelson Pride are providing a range of low or no cost Covid-friendly events that will celebrate and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community of Nelson-Tasman and beyond. 

The goal of Pride Week 2022 is to celebrate diversity, Queer history, local LGBTQI+ groups and promote opportunities for creating a safe, strong, and connected community.

The Pride Week 2022 program includes a rangatahi-centred Rainbow market, a potluck Brunch, two heritage talks, two beach outings and is closed out with a screening of the documentary Through Rainbow Coloured Glasses. 

Events are set to take place throughout the Nelson and Tasman regions, from Atawhai to Stoke to Rabbit Island, and the line-up has been designed to go ahead under all Covid Traffic Light settings.

Two highlights of Pride Week are the educational heritage talks. 

RED DOOR THEATRE. "Crossing The Lines"

On ANZAC day on 25 April, Nelson Pride warmly welcome Brent Coutts, to the Red Door Theatre, to talk about his book Crossing the Lines, the story of three homosexual soldiers in WWII and to speak about his experience as a researcher of queer history. This event is also part of Tuku22, Nelson’s Heritage Festival. 

THE RED DOOR THEATRE "Top Story"

On 27 April, Nelson Pride committee member Ari Edgecombe presents also at the Red Door Theatre Top Story, a pictorial story-telling event on his journey from 10-day-old baby girl to the Southern fella he is today, with a strong focus on top-surgery medical adventures.

 

Pride Week will close out on the 2 May with a screening of the documentary Through Rainbow Coloured Glasses at the Pastorius Waller Auditorium at the Suter Art Gallery. This feature-length documentary, co-produced by Big Girls Blouse Productions and Pink Health Otautahi over 2006-2008, chronicles six decades of LGBTQ+ history in Christchurch.

SUTER ART GALLERY "Through Rainbow Coloured Glasses" 6.30PM 2 MAY PASTORIUS-WALLER THEATRE, SUTER GALLERY, 208 BRIDGE ST.

In a show of visual support for the LGBTQ+ Community, both the NCMA (Nelson Centre of Musical Arts) and Theatre Royal buildings will be lit up in rainbow colours throughout Pride Week.

Nelson Pride are also thankful for and acknowledge the funding they have received from the Nelson City Council Tuku22 Event Host Grant and the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust, for making Pride Week possible.

Nelson Pride chair Aimée Borlase said, “After the success of last year's inaugural Pride Week, and then with the disappointing cancellation of the Pride Ball, we’re just really excited to be able to finally put something on that we know is going to be able to go ahead at any alert level and that still provides a range of events and activities. Like 2021, this year will have a lot of family-oriented and educational events, which we know was something the community really enjoyed last year.”

 

Since 2017 Nelson Pride has been active and on the ground as an unincorporated organisation. Nelson Pride Incorporated was established as an incorporated society in 2021. They are a non-profit organisation operated by volunteers who are dedicated to developing social events that celebrate and provide connection for the LGBQIA+ Community in the Nelson/Tasman region.

 

The full program is available at Facebook.com/nelsonpridenz. For ticketing and venue information please see our Facebook page or email nelsonpridenz@gmail.com. 

THE PROGRAM IS DETAILED BELOW:

RAINBOW MARKET,  OPENING CEREMONY & POTLUCK BRUNCH AT GREENMEADOWS COMMUNITY CRNTRE, 491 MAIN ROAD, STOKE.

TAHUNANUI BEACH

FOUNDERS CAFE

SUTER GALLERY

MOTUROA / RABBIT ISLAND

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