A Joyful Multicultural Christmas Celebration in Washbourn Gardens, Richmond.

Christmas Tree in Washbourn Gardens, Richmond. Photo credit Anne-Maree Therkleson.

Richmond Celebrates a Memorable Christmas Evening in Washbourn Gardens

In a heartwarming celebration organised by the Tasman District Council and Welcoming Communities Tasman, Washbourn Gardens in Richmond came alive on Saturday evening December 16, 2023. 

This festive gathering, blending multicultural elements with Christmas cheer, marked International Migrants Day and welcomed newcomers to the diverse Tasman community.

As the clock struck 6 pm, families and individuals convened for the Multicultural Picnic and Christmas festivities. The evening kicked off with a lively multicultural picnic, accompanied by family-friendly craft activities and an open mic session for musical performances, creating an atmosphere of joy and unity.

Multicultural Christmas in the park Richmond, Tasman. Photo credit Anne-Maree Therkleson

Santa and his elves, had a demanding yet entertaining job, engaging with children both amidst the crowd and in a Christmas-themed play area. With his characteristic jolliness and festive spirit, Santa brought smiles to the faces of young and old alike, adding a delightful touch of comedy to the celebration.

Santa surrounded by children. Photo credit Anne-Maree Therkleson.

All different nationality food carts, a coffee cart, and various kids' activities kept everyone entertained. The Richmond Volunteer Fire Brigade stood by, ready to assist Santa in his festive endeavours.

One of the food trucks. Photo credit Anne-Maree Therkleson.

Washbourn Gardens, adorned with bright coloured floodlights and bunting of multinational flags, became an enchanting spectacle. The trees and shrubs, illuminated in a vibrant tapestry of lights, added a layer of magic to the festive atmosphere, creating a breathtaking visual display that captivated all who attended. All the while the melodic notes of the music resonated from the park, wafting throughout Richmond.

Washbourn Gardens with bright coloured floodlighting. Photo credit Anne-Maree Therkleson

The picnic and open stage activities unfolded between 6pm and 8pm, preceding the commencement of the enchanting carol singing. As the carols began, the crowd, now settled from the earlier festive activities, became remarkably attentive, basking in the wonderful music and joining in the collective joy of the season.

The transition from the picnic to the carol singing marked a shift in the evening's ambiance. The Nelson Brass Band, Salisbury Road youth band, and the enchanting Take a Chance Singers filled the air with beloved Christmas tunes. Pianist Louis Lucas Perry and Samantha Baxter from Musical Theatre New Zealand added a magical touch to the musical repertoire.

The Take a Chance Singers. Photo credit Anne-Maree Therkleson.

Candles were lit during the carol singing, casting a warm glow across the crowd and enhancing the enchanting atmosphere of the evening as it became darker. This luminous touch added to the overall charm of the celebration.

In a heartening display of community engagement, the Tasman Youth Council, comprising enthusiastic teens from across the district, demonstrated their commitment to making a positive impact. During the Christmas in the Park event and the recent Speak Up event, the youth council collected an impressive sum of $236.40. These dedicated young individuals not only contributed to the festive ambiance but also worked diligently to raise funds for a noble cause. The proceeds from their efforts will be directed towards Youthline, reflecting the council's collective effort to support and uplift the well-being of youth in the community. Their initiative exemplifies the spirit of giving and community involvement, embodying the true essence of the holiday season.

The Tasman Youth Council. Photo credit Tasman District Council.

I wondered around Richmond for a few minutes to explore what was happening, on this wonderful evening elsewhere, I discovered an unexpected serenity. Everything was quiet, with only the Christmas lights on Queen Street flickering in the distance and Pak’nSave appearing empty. However, the tall Christmas tree in Washbourn Gardens twinkled with Christmas lights, creating a distant yet radiant beacon of the festivities in the Park.

Washbourne Gardens. Photo credit Anne-Maree Therkleson.

In this festive spirit, the Tasman District's Christmas event successfully bridged the gap between cultures and created lasting memories. Whether engaging with Santa's playful antics, enjoying the multicultural festivities, or becoming immersed in the beauty of the carols and the illuminated gardens, everyone enjoyed the unity and goodwill that defines the Christmas season. The Tasman District and Welcoming Communities Tasman truly demonstrated the essence of a welcoming community, where diversity is celebrated, and the joy of Christmas is shared by all.

More photos of the event below:-

Organised by Tasman District Council Te Kaunihera o te tai o Aorere and Welcoming Communities Tasman.

Generous sponsorship for this event also from Atkinson Crehan Law. 

The Nelson Brass Band. Photo credit Anne-Maree Therkleson.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond. 18 Dec 2023.

Merry Christmas from the team here at Pigeon Post.

Security Scare at Nelson Airport

Nelson Airport receives "Concerning" email. Photo R Therkleson.

Security Scare at Nelson Airport Resolved: Terminal Evacuated Following email of a "concerning nature"

In a development today, Sunday, December 17, at Nelson Airport, authorities swiftly responded to a threatening email, resulting in the evacuation of the airport terminal as a precautionary measure. Police are actively working to trace the origin of the concerning email and assure the public that no immediate threat has been identified.

The security measures were implemented after the airport received an alarming email, prompting the involvement of the police, ambulance, and fire service. The evacuation, which took place just after 9 am, was conducted to ensure the safety of all individuals present. The building was cleared for re-entry shortly before 10 am, allowing for the resumption of flights.

While there is confidence from the police that there is no ongoing threat, the terminal remained evacuated as a precautionary step. Authorities advise members of the public to avoid the airport until the incident is fully resolved. Traveler's with flights to and from Nelson are urged to follow instructions provided by their respective airlines.

Police expressed understanding of the unsettling nature of such incidents and extended gratitude to everyone involved for their cooperation during the investigation. Ongoing inquiries are being conducted to determine the source of the threatening email, and updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

The latest update from the Police Media Centre is that normal operations are resuming at the Nelson Airport and that “both the airport and planes there have been cleared and Police are confident there is no ongoing threat.

Police Media Centre

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand urges caution

Fire at Appleby Tuesday 12 Dec. Photo Fire & Emergency New Zealand.

 

Fire and Emergency urges caution following fire in Appleby near Richmond

Fire and Emergency is reminding people to be very careful with their fire activity following a fire in Appleby near Richmond on Tuesday 12 December.

The fire started at a firewood supply yard near Appleby around 4pm after a permitted burn pile got out of control.

Crews and trucks from 10 different brigades worked alongside two helicopters to contain and extinguish the fire. The last crew left the scene around 3am, with the property handed back to the owners this morning.

Assistant Commander Craig Davies says the fire had a lot of wood in a relatively small area and was fanned by strong winds, which resulted in a high intensity fire that was difficult to extinguish. 

Appleby fire.

"Our mainly volunteer personnel we had at the fire all worked extremely hard and it is a credit to them that the fire was contained and prevented from spreading.

"Unfortunately, a front-end loader, a truck and a firewood splitter were destroyed in the blaze, but the work of the crews meant the neighbouring properties were protected.

"We would like to thank Taylors Contracting and Fulton Hogan, who helped by supplying water tankers and front-end loaders.”

Craig Davies says the very dry and windy conditions, with wind gusts up to 90kmh, will be present in the area again on Wednesday, so people should be cautious with any burning or spark-generating activity.

"Please be very careful with ignition sources and please remember to always check the local fire danger at www.checkitsalright.nz and follow our safety guidelines, even if you have a permit to light a fire.

"If the fire danger is Very High or Extreme, it is best to postpone a fire."

Fire at Appleby

Report from the Richmond Voluntary Fire Brigade

It was another busy day for the Richmond Voluntary Fire crew, the third call today turned into a large fire in Appleby. 

The Richmond Volunteers were joined by crews from Hira, Nelson, Mapua, Brightwater, Upper Moutere, Motueka, Appleby, Tasman, and Ngatimoti. 

They also had some great Community assistance from Taylors Ltd, Miller's firewood and Fulton Hogan suppliing water tankers and heavy machinery plus two helicopters helping to make great progress. They wished to thank heaps very one who helped.

They said it was a great effort by all involved who had worked so hard to make very good progress and to make a substantial difference. Crews will be staying overnight to keep working on it.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Dry summer forecast sees wider water restrictions introduced for Tasman

 Dry summer forecast sees wider water restrictions introduced for Tasman 

13 December, 2023

Driven by falling river flows, an extended dry summer forecast and a need to conserve water at the earliest opportunity, Tasman District Council has announced water restrictions for a number of urban users and consent holders.  

A meeting of Tasman’s Dry Weather Task Force was held this week to discuss the possible implementation of measures, in response to the arrival of the El Nino weather pattern and the likelihood of drier months ahead. 

Taskforce convenor Kim Drummond said having sufficient water available for everyone – be it for irrigation, commercial or residential use - was a major consideration for the district.  

Therefore, a conservative approach was essential to meet the demand of the community. 

“Our primary objective is to ensure  the rivers and aquifers have enough water to support life, and due to the dry weather we need to start rationing the amount that people use.” 

“With minimal rainfall expected in the lead up to Christmas, it is important to be prepared and take action now so we can avoid water shortages and broader restrictions later in the summer season. 

Water Consent Holders 

Stage 1 Rationing - or a 20% cut from authorised weekly usage - will begin from Monday 18 December 2023 for consent holders in the Dovedale and Motupiko Water Management Zones where flows have or are about to hit trigger levels. 

Watering of lawns or decorative gardens is not permitted for any water user situated in the affected water management zones. Stock drinking water is not affected by these water restrictions. 

“The position will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Dry Weather Taskforce on 19 December 2023 – in the meantime, we ask everyone to conserve water as much as they can,” Kim said. 

If you receive your water from a Council supply 

Users on Council-managed reticulated water supplies are also affected, with Phase B water restrictions coming into effect on Friday 15 December, for those on water supply in Wakefield, Richmond, Brightwater, Hope, Redwood Valley 1 and 2, Māpua / Ruby Bay, Dovedale and Eighty Eight Valley. 

Nelson residents living adjacent to Champion Road, Wakatu Industrial Estate, and parts of Saxton Road West, where water is supplied from the Richmond Water Supply Scheme, will also face Phase B water restrictions. 

Tasman District Council Group Manager Community Infrastructure Richard Kirby said “the move to Phase B followed the implementation of Phase A restrictions on December 1 and was primarily driven by the need to avoid exceeding the amount of water Council could extract from its intakes”.   

“It’s important to note that Phase B is very much at the lower end of the scale of the restrictions we implement – but with minimal rain forecast in the coming days, we need to continue managing demand by implementing restrictions at this time.” 

• Under Phase B restrictions; 
• You can't water the lawn, fill or top up a pool, spa or water feature, or use water for play. 
• You can still do outdoor washing (cars, windows, outdoor areas) with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, water blaster or bucket. 
• Flowers/trees/planters can be watered every second day only with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering systems on a timer or a bucket. 
• Veggie gardens and fruit trees can be watered with a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering systems on a timer, or a bucket. 

Richard said “the situation will continue to be monitored in the coming days. However, if there is no significant rainfall and demand does not reduce then Phase C restrictions will follow on 22 December 2023”. 
 

More details on what the restrictions mean can be found at www.tasman.govt.nz/water-restrictions/

Source: Tasman District Council, Te tai o Aorere, Communications.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.