Wakefield Police Action - Ernest Rutherford Statue Recovered, man arrested

Lord Ernest Rutherford Childhood photo when he was about five-years-old. Photo supplied.

SWIFT ACTION BY WAKEFIELD POLICE SETTLES THE GRIEF FELT BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES AT THE THEIF OF LORD ERNEST RUTHERFORD CHILDHOOD STATUE

Some swift action by a local Wakefield officer has seen the Lord Ernest Rutherford statue recovered and a man held accountable for its theft.

Police have arrested and charged a 35-year-old man in relation to the theft of the statue in Brightwater on Friday.

He has been charged with theft and wilful damage and is due to appear in the Nelson District Court today.

Police recovered the statue today and it will be taken back to its rightful place at the memorial site.

The boyhood statue of Ernest Rutherford will be back where it belongs thanks to our local Police Officer Constable Jamie White. File Photo

Lord Ernest Rutherford is one of our most highly regarded New Zealanders and a great scientist of the 20th century.

The memorial honours his legacy and is frequented by both locals and tourists alike, so to see the memorial damaged in such a senseless way was extremely upsetting for Police and the Brightwater community.

We were disappointed to see that his memorial was treated in such a way.

Thankfully, due to some fantastic Police work by our dedicated local officer Constable Jamie White, we were able to resolve this matter overnight.

Constable White took direct action to apprehend the man after he jumped into the flooding Wai-iti River to evade arrest.

Neither party were injured and they were able to make themselves back to shore safely.

We’d like to thank the local community for their assistance in providing information to Police which ultimately helped us find the statue.

It shows the great work that can happen when Police and our communities work together.

The damaged statue of Lord Ernest Rutherford at his National  and International Memorial Site in Brightwater where he was born.

Thank you to the local community for helping the Police Editor.

Police release 8 August

Pigeon Post News

Shocking - young boy Statue of Lord Ernest Rutherford - removed from his Birthplace Memorial - Springs Grove, Tasman.

The young boy statue of Ernest Rutherford at the memorial of where he was born. His Father and Mother had a house and worked the land behind him.  Photo supplied

 Lord Ernest Rutherford Childhood Statue Stolen

From a social media post it was reported on 5 Aug that between 1.50am and 2.30am the Lord Ernest Rutherford Memorial statue was removed and stolen from his Birthplace Memorial in Springs Grove, Tasman New Zealand. 

The statue as it is now to remember Lord Ernest Rutherford. Photo R Therkleson

The suspect is believed to be male and was riding a bicycle. They have entered via Lord Rutherford Road North and exited around 2.40am heading north on Lord Rutherford Road North. 

This is incredibly shocking and disappointing to see a statue of such a local and international icon and significance of the memorial being on Lord Rutherford’s birthplace damaged and stolen.

Ernest Rutherford about 5 years old. Photo supplied

I went to the memorial site this morning and people were visiting the memorial in deep regret that such an act could have happened to the memorial.

Someone will likely know who did this or where the statue has been taken to. It is very unique and easily identifiable. 

This is the latest police report to media:

“Wakefield Police are making enquiries following the theft of the Lord Rutherford Memorial Statue from its plinth on Lord Rutherford Road early yesterday morning.

The theft is believed to have occurred around 2am when a person on a bike broke off the body of the statue and rode away.

If anyone has information relating to the whereabouts of the statue or who is responsible for its theft, please contact Constable Jamie White directly by emailing Jamie.white2@police.govt.nz.

Alternatively, you can contact Wakefield Police on 105 and quote file number 220806/1718.”

Ernest Rutherford was born in Spring Grove at this site on 30 August 1871, the fourth child of 12 born to James Rutherford, a mechanic, and his wife, Martha Thompson, who had been the schoolteacher at Spring Grove.

He was officially but mistakenly registered as Earnest at birth but, in the family he was called Ern. 

Ernest Rutherford's paternal grandfather, George Rutherford, was recruited in Scotland to help establish a sawmill in New Zealand. 

During the early 1840s the New Zealand Company colonized New Zealand by sending one shipload of emigrants each month. 

In 1842 George and a pregnant Barbara Rutherford embarked on the ship ‘Phoebe’ with their four young sons. Ernest's father James celebrated his fourth birthday during the tedious 133-day voyage.(Four Months at Sea)

The ‘Phoebe' arrived in Nelson in March 1843 and the Rutherford family travelled to Motueka, Tasman where George helped build and operate Thomas Thoms' sawmill.

A year later Thomas Thoms became ill and the Rutherfords moved to Waimea West where they farmed and operated their own sawmill. Life was extremely hard.

By 1853 the large Rutherford family had shifted again, to Spring Grove Tasman, to the farm behind the memorial where Ernest Father and Mother prospered.

Ernest's father James worked in the family wheelwright business.

When James and Martha married, his father gave them the land to build a house on, where the Memorial is today. There is no photo of the house only when it was demolished in about 1920.

Lord Rutherford's parents James and Martha Rutherford. Photo supplied

The first eight of the couple's twelve children were born at the site of the memorial.

When Ernest was five they moved to a small farm in the Wai-iti valley near the new railhead at Foxhill, where he attended Foxhill School.

The Rutherford children all helped with the household and farm chores. Ernest milked cows, tended the vegetable garden and acted as a scarecrow for the ripening wheat.

Later Ernest claimed his inventiveness was honed on the challenges of helping out on his parents' farm: ‘We haven't the money, so we've got to think.’

In 1883, when Ernest was 11 years old, his father moved the family to Havelock to be nearer to the flax mill he was now operating by the Ruapaka Stream. 

Martha Rutherford ensured that all her children were well prepared for school and all received a good education. She believed ‘all knowledge is power.’

In 1887 Ernest won the Marlborough Education Board scholarship to Nelson College and went on to Canterbury College before going overseas in 1895. 

A sketch of Ernest Rutherford at the Memorial sit between Spring Grove and Brightwater Tasman New Zealand

For his research into the chemistry of radioactive substances Rutherford was awarded the Nobel prize in chemistry in 1908 as well as many other awards and honours. 

Considered to be New Zealand’s greatest scientist, he made outstanding contributions to science including the Rutherford–Bohr nuclear model of the atom. He was also the first to split the atom.

Rutherford died at Cambridge on 19 October 1937 and his ashes were interred in London's Westminster Abbey. 

Lord Ernest Rutherford's Resting place Westminster Abbey. Photo supplied

Lady Rutherford retired to Christchurch where she died in1954. Rutherford's medals, possibly the world's best assemblage awarded to one scientist, were given to Canterbury College.

Additional Comments:

Great story and awesome to read the history. Please send an update if you hear about a possible retrieval of the statue. 

Damn that's amazing can't believe I live In the town where he was born.

This makes my heart sad!

Just shocking

Expect more of this with the cost of living crisis on the rise, recycled metals are worth alot at the moment.

A Disgusting act from some cretin that lives amongst us. Pathetic!

There is apparently CCTV footage of the perp' riding a bicycle, which should be spread far and wide on the off-chance someone will recognise them.

Unbelievably shitty thing to do shame on you whoever you are 🤨

Can you please make it so we can share far and wide? Thank you.

Someone must know something they can share with the police. Why would someone do this? Money for the metal? Disgusting! 

May justice persevere. 😔

Thanks to everyone who has commented. It's kind of you to give feedback. I will try and follow-up on this story but will be otherwise occupied for a few days. Ray editor

Pigeon Post News

New Cyclists and Pedestrian Bridge to be named after Christine Pullar of Golden Bay

A separate new bridge for cyclists and pedestrians to be attached to Motupipi River Bridge, Motupipi Golden Bay

Tasman District Council beginning new bridge at Motupipi 

Tasman District Council is about to begin on a new shared pathway bridge over the Motupipi River in Golden Bay.

Site works on the bridge, which is to be named after community cycling and walking advocate Christine Pullar, starts next week.

The prefabricated structure will be mounted on piles on the seaward side of the road bridge, near the intersection of Abel Tasman Drive and Burnside Road.

Currently, cyclists and pedestrians on the popular Tākaka to Pōhara shared path must share the narrow Motupipi Road bridge with other traffic, raising safety concerns for all users.

The project has a price tag of just under $400,000 and is expected to be finished in time for the summer visitor season.

Additional Comments:-

-So great to hear of the proposed cycle way - it’s a bit scary cycling over that bridge when there is traffic. 

-Christine was an amazing person, a champion for cycling. This is a perfect naming. A lovely tribute to her life. 

-Murray Devine this is awesome news, I always get nervous going over it in case of cars, so I go speedy as 😆

-Great news this, Always a bit of a dodgy pinch point for traffic and bikes.

-Yes she certainly was a lovely person ...Great idea

-Awesome news! Biking the motupipi Hill with our girls will feel much safer. Some how people miss the giant "40km speed limit applies when cyclists or pedestrians are present" signs.

-One day they might even connect one end of the path to the other,  a gap in the middle, at its most dangerous,,,,maybe.

Thanks for your comments Golden Bay. It's lovely to have some comments. Ray Editor.

Pigeon Post News

Upper Takaka Cobb Rd Closed until at least Monday 8 August

 

Cobb Dam Lower Rd Closed with slip

On Thursday 4 August Tasman District Council reported that Cobb Road is closed due to a slip between the Tākaka River Bridge and the Power Station. 

The latest update came through at 10am this morning 5 Aug.

Cobb Road is still closed due to a slip between the Tākaka River Bridge and the Power Station. The road will remain closed until at least Monday 8 August while the contractors work to clear the slip.

The Council  advised any trampers stuck on the other side of the slip: Please make your way to the slip and our contractors will attempt to create a track to get your vehicle out. Please call us on 03 543 8400 with any questions.

Tim O’Connell, Communications Officer, Tasman District Council says they well be keeping information flowing through their FB page as things progress.

Pigeon Post News

Sebastian Vettel to retire - Formula 1

Sebastian Vettel

 

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel to retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season

This is it. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season.

The German, who made his debut with BMW Sauber in the 2007 United States Grand Prix, revealed the news via his newly created Instagram account – his first foray into social media.

Vettel won all four of his championships with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013 and is third on the all-time list of Grand Prix winners with 53 victories.

A six-year stint with Ferrari failed to yield a much-coveted fifth title and he has scored just one podium during one-and-a-half years with Aston Martin, where his contract expires at the end of 2022.

Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Vettel – who races alongside Lance Stroll – announced this will be his 15th and final full season in Formula 1.

“I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula 1 over the past 15 years – there are far too many to mention and thank,” said Vettel. “Over the past two years I have been an Aston Martin driver – and although our results have not been as good as we had hoped, it is very clear to me that everything is being put together that a team needs to race at the very highest level for years to come.

“I have really enjoyed working with such a great bunch of people. Everyone – Lawrence [Stroll], Lance [Stroll], Martin [Whitmarsh], Mike [Krack], the senior managers, the engineers, the mechanics and the rest of the team – is ambitious, capable, expert, committed and friendly, and I wish them all well.

“I hope that the work I did last year and am continuing to do this year will be helpful in the development of a team that will win in the future, and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving as always my best in the last 10 races.

“The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it; at the end of the year I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next; it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family.

“But today is not about saying goodbye. Rather, it is about saying thank you – to everyone – not least to the fans, without whose passionate support Formula 1 could not exist.”

Pigeon Post News

Thirty of the Brightwater Fonterra team will be impacted by a shock decision

Thirty employees will be impacted by the closure of the Brightwater plant on Factory St., Brightwater. Photo R Therkleson

Fonterra to close Brightwater milk powder plant

Fonterra has today announced it will be closing the milk powder plant at its Brightwater site 10km south of Richmond, Tasman in April 2023.

However, milk collection and associated activities will continue at Brightwater as Fonterra moves its milk transfer activities there from Tuamarina, Marlborurough.

Brightwater with a population of 2250 residents at the 2020 census can ill afford to loose any workers. It is a thriving little town on the Waimea plains servicing local farmers, horticulture, viticulture, and the local community.

Brightwater central shopping centre Photo R Therkleson

Thirty employees will be impacted by the closure of the milk powder plant and Mr Whineray says the priority right now is supporting them.

“It’s no doubt tough news for some of the Brightwater team and we’ll be working with them in the coming months on their future options, including re-deployment opportunities within the Co-op.”

Mr Whineray says he’s proud of the quality and skills the 30 team members have and is confident they’ll be able to secure new roles.

The small ageing plant processes about 0.25% of the Co-operative’s overall milk supply into whole milk powder. Fonterra Chief Operating Officer Fraser Whineray says the move, which will instead see the milk being processed at Fonterra’s Darfield site near Christchurch, is in line with Fonterra’s long-term strategy.

Fonterra Chief Operating Officer Fraser Whineray  Photo Fonterra

“We know milk supply is declining over time, flat at best, so we need to make sure we’re getting the most out of every drop of milk and optimising our plants to match both consumer demand and available milk supply." 

“Part of our long-term strategy is to direct more milk into our Foodservice and Consumer business, less into Ingredients, and in some cases, to divert product away from the Global Dairy Trade auctions. This, along with forecast capital and maintenance costs, means we’ve made the tough decision to close our milk powder plant at Brightwater." 

“We’re continually working to ensure our assets across the country are as efficient as they can be, changing product mixes, and moving more milk into value-add products” says Fraser Whineray.

Fonterra Factory on Factory Rd., Brightwater Tasman Photo R Therkleson

Comments:-

-Sad news, I was factory manager for 11 years from1975. The plant is suitable for small runs of specialty product. Hope someone can use it again for that purpose.

-That’s sad for the workers down there.

Thanks for your comments. Ray editor

Pigeon Post News

Thorp Bush Motueka

 

Working Bee at Thorp Bush Motueka

The ‘Keep Motueka Beautiful’ group have had a working bee

The ‘Keep Motueka Beautiful’ group had a very successful working bee at Thorp Bush on Saturday 23rd July.  

Fifteen volunteers worked very hard and planted, jacketed and mulched over 250 plants in the old vehicle turning circle  where the asphalt driveway has been removed.  

The weather was fine and it wasn't too muddy after a lot of rain for these hard workers. 

These volunteers planted over 150 plants

The photos show the before and after.  The ‘Keep Motueka Beautiful’ group thanked everyone who was involved.

We have been advised that the other side of the path is still waterlogged and it will be at least 2 weeks before the hard working group have another working bee. 

 

Saturday 13th August may be a possibility, Keep a watch out on Facebook.

Pigeon Post News