A PLAN to extend the Motu trails cycleway from Opotiki to Whakatane has been taken a step further.

The Opotiki District Council last week endorsed the business case to extend the trail.

The proposed extension is a 58.5-kilometre grade two trail that would follow the coastline between Opotiki and the Rangitaiki River mouth.

According to a report tabled at the district council meeting last week, it will provide a safe linkage between the communities of Opotiki, Ohiwa, Ohope and Whakatane.

Extending the trail to the west will attract more visitors and increase the likelihood of them staying overnight in Opotiki, or elsewhere in the Eastern Bay, creating economic development and tourism opportunities.

The proposed extension includes on/off ramp links to access the existing clip-on to the state highway bridge over the Waioeka River, and includes a new bridge spanning the Waiotahi river and a ferry ride across the Ohiwa Harbour entrance.

The report recommended that council staff investigate preparing a provincial growth fund application to build a new bridge over the river for pedestrians and cyclists.

It is estimated that $5.2 million of Government funding over three years will be required to promote economic development within the Bay of Plenty.

A strategy for an Eastern Bay cycleway was produced in July 2015 by the three district councils in the region.

Since then, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has approved funds to complete a business case for extending the Motu Trails Great Ride from Opotiki to Whakatane Airport.

The Motu Trails is made up of the dunes trail, Motu Road trail and the Pakihi track, and was officially opened in 2012.

DESPITE pouring rain, Opotiki people turned out in force to welcome the New Zealand Blood Service back to town last Thursday. The blood donation crew was at the St John Hall for three hours, having taken the opportunity to stop while conducting blood drives in Gisborne and Whakatane. It was the first blood appeal held […]

OPOTIKI’S iconic sports store may close soon unless a buyer is found.
Brendan Hickey said Hickeys Opotiki had been on the market for some time, but so far no one has bought the business.

“If a buyer isn’t found by September 30 then it’s likely that our store will close either at the end of October or early November this year,” he said.

“This will be a huge call for the family to have to make, recognising Hickeys have been part of the retail community for 83 years.”

Mr Hickey said most of the inquiries had come from larger urban areas.

“Many of them have reservations about moving to a small town like ours,” he said.

“There may also be a perception about the impact online shopping will have on bricks-and-mortar stores like Hickeys.”

Mr Hickey said online shopping was not a threat to business, but an opportunity to be capitalised upon.

“Since opening our own online store in 2014 we have never looked back,” he said.

“We now sell to all parts of New Zealand and offer a personalised e-commerce experience.”

Mr Hickey said isolation from markets was no longer an impediment with next-day courier delivery even from a small town like Opotiki.

“There is no such thing as a geographical barrier,” he said.

By operating out of Opotiki, the business had enjoyed lower overheads than what’s applicable in the large towns.

“Retail is going through an extremely exciting phase,” Mr Hickey said.

“At the age of 67, I just wish I was 20 years younger to take advantage of the opportunities that modern retail offers both instore and online.”

Mr Hickey said the store clocked up record sales during December and January and the annual sales had reached a consistent $1.1 to $1.2 million for each of the past five years.

“However, for a number of years now, family members have been wanting to retire,” he said.

“I am the relative newcomer having only joined the business in 1989.

“My younger brother Tim and sister Cushla have each been working in the store for almost 40 years and of course Mrs Hickey has been an integral part of Hickeys since 1948.

“We cannot be here forever. It’s time to move on.”

A SHADY find on Tern Island has proven to be a tornado dropping.

On August 26 – six days after a tornado hit nearby Port Ohope – Ohiwa environmentalist and bird watcher Mike Collins was out on Whangakopikopiko Island, also known as Tern

Island, filling bait stations and emptying predator traps when he saw a strange item lying on the beach.

His wife, Meg, being more of a connoisseur of style, identified the trendy sphere as a David Trubridge lightshade called Coral and quickly realised where it had probably come from.

“The only place it could have come from was the conference centre at the Ohope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park,” Mrs Collins said.

“So, we rang [park manager] Mark Inman and asked him if he’d had a David Trubridge in his conference centre, which he did.”

Mrs Collins said a few of the 60 elements in the sphere had been damaged but they could be replaced and the lamp repaired.

Mr Inman said as sad as the August 20 tornado was, it was fascinating to learn where debris from the damaged buildings had ended up.

“It’s incredible how far it has travelled,” he said.

“They were holding a committee meeting at the golf club that evening and they watched our furniture fly past.”

Mr Collins also found two downlights on the island, which were filled with sand, along with timber framing and other debris.

“I cleaned the sand out of them (the downlights) and then sprayed them with CRC. One of them has had it, but the other one is working.”

On Friday, volunteers and Department of Conservation staff will go out to the island to clean it up.

OPOTIKI players competed in Eastern Bay teams at the Ellis Shield rugby tournament in Rotorua on Sunday.

Pictured is Opotiki’s Hakeke Mokomoko carrying the ball against Central Bay. After games were played in the under-13, under-12 and under-11 grades, Central Bay retained the trophy.

Taupo were also included in the under-13 and under-11 grades this year, after Western Bay withdrew from the competition.

Eastern Bay won both games in the under-13 game, beating Central 69-14 and Taupo 78-0 while Central Bay beat Eastern Bay 34-29 in the under-12 game.

The Central team also won the under-11 fixture, beating Eastern Bay 17-7 and the Eastern Bay beat Taupo 24-10.

THREE more primary schools are gearing up for Aims Games next week, preparing their student athletes for the national competition.

About 400 students are expected to compete in the indoor bowls this year, including many from Opotiki schools.

Woodlands Primary School has a roster of 10 bowlers heading to Tauranga for the games – half of them returning competitor and half of them newcomers

“We’ve got five students that went to Aims last year that will be returning,” said principal Glenn Phipps.

With the Woodlands Opotiki Indoor Bowling Club just across the road from the school, students go over for an hour of training every Wednesday.

“Some of the students also go to the indoor bowls club in town on a Wednesday night,” he said.

With this kind of experience, Phipps hopes the school’s individual bowlers and pairs place within the top 16.

“It’s a sport that the kids like, and they like the thinking involved. It’s a very tactical game,” he said.

Last year, Woodlands sent indoor bowlers and a futsal team to Aims.

The futsal team won the sportsmanship award, but was made up entirely of year 8 students, so unfortunately could not return this year.
Phipps said last year had been the school’s first time attending the Aims games since he became principal but they now planned to attend every year.

“This is us now, every year. Next year we’ll look at some other sports and sending some more teams.”

ON Saturday, Phoenix Taekwondo travelled to Tauranga to compete in the New Zealand United Taekwondo Association Bay Championships.

The club took 17 competitors and returned with eight gold, seven silver and four bronze medals.

Instructors Kayla and Kaysea Cronin said they were proud of the students’ sportsmanship and the visible improvements in the team’s skills.

“We are seeing more technical kicks being landed, especially spinning ones,” said Kayla.

The last tournament for the year will be held in Tokoroa early next month.

Results:

Poomsae: Sara Barbera, bronze in the junior grades 8-2.

Kyorugi: Te Rongopai Gillies, bronze in the youth 2 female grade 8-6; silver in the youth female grade 5-3; Amital Edwards-Rae, bronze in the minor 1 female grade 3-5; Jonathan Sturm, bronze in the minor 2 male grade 8-6; Caleb Cox, silver in the minor 2 male grade 8-6; Shauna Edwards-Jull, silver in the junior female grade 2-1; Kopua Robbinson, silver in the minor 2 male grade 5-3; Ryley Scott, silver in the minor 1 female grade 5-3; Sara Barbera, silver in the junior female grade 5-3; Kirikiriroa Warren, silver in the youth 1 female grade 8-6; Byrn Gault, gold in the junior male black belt; Waimanawa Robbinson, gold in the minor 2 female grade 5-3; Mayson Ruha-Harris , gold in the minor 2 male grade 8-6; Quade Poihipi , gold in the minor male 3 grade 8-6; Tayla Edwards-Rae, gold in the youth female grade 2-1; Violet Jones, gold in the minor 1 gemale hrade 3-5; Willow Collier, gold in the minor 1 female grade 5-3; Jean Sturm, gold in the junior female grade 8-6.

THE message coming out of a Mycoplasma Bovis workshop at Edgecumbe last week was that farmers and contractors must change attitudes to deal with the disease.

At a packed Edgecumbe War Memorial Hall last Wednesday, 70 farmers talked about the threats and possible solutions to the disease that the Ministry of Primary Industries has vowed to eradicate from New Zealand.

Farmers at the workshop created a long list of potential risks they could face regarding biosecurity at the farmgate. Much of the risk, they said, came from contractors needing access to the farm. A clean-on, clean-off system was determined to be the best, first line of defence.

Galatea farm contractor Chris Van Den Broeke said any effort contractors or transporters made to keep their equipment clean could be undermined by a moment of carelessness by farmers themselves.

“I think we can try as hard as we like to stop all these things but there will still be farmers driving around with grasses hanging off the undercarriage of their vehicles,” he said.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council manager of land resources Chris Corbett said farmers would have to take the same steps as visitors when it came to disinfecting equipment.

Mr Van Den Broeke was sceptical of efforts to eradicate the disease, saying that scientists worldwide had researched the disease and no cure had been forthcoming.

“You’ll never reduce the risk down to zero but it’s about doing everything you can to minimise it,” Dairy NZ senior farm advisor Ross Bishop said.

Mr Corbett said a premium could be available for New Zealand products if M. Bovis was not an issue.

“We can put a dollar value on being free of this disease,” he said.

Mr Bishop said dividing the farm into green, amber and red zones could act as a barrier to the spread of the disease. Green zones would be areas where contamination risk was low and visitors could have easy access to.

“Think of the farm as an island,” he said.

When the issue surrounding service bulls was broached, Dairy NZ policy advisor Nita Harding said there was risk.

“Service bulls are problematic, there’s no question about that but it’s up to the farmer,” she said.

If the disease is eradicated, New Zealand will be the first to do it.

“A lot of the world is now looking at us to see how we manage this,” Ms Harding said.

“So, we’ll end up being the world leader on how to deal with it.”

There are recognised trigger events that, depending on the outcome, will determine the next steps MPI can take.

Over the months since the disease was discovered on a Canterbury dairy farm, farmers have had all their milking cows tested for the disease.

“The milk testing (results) will be a milestone in our response evaluation,” Ms Harding said.

Catherine Cropp echoed what many farmers had been thinking since the disease became known.

“Everything we do on the farm is automatically going to become more expensive,” she said.

Ms Harding said though there was a possibility of the disease spreading further than it had already, farmers could start small and adapt as conditions required.

“Start with something simple, even if it’s just a place for visitors to wash their boots,” she said.

“Anything you do is better than what you’re doing now.”

Event organiser Eastern Bay of Plenty Whakatane branch director Greg Malcolm said as much as he understood concerns over more work and expense in farming, the reality was the disease had arrived and effort should be taken to eradicate it.

“As much as it might be a hassle and risk farmers and contractors, it’s in our best interest for making proactive plans and working collaboratively,” he said.

He said by taking a page out of Britain’s handbook for dealing with tuberculosis, farmers could decrease risk.

“We just need to pick up our game,” he said.

mark.rieder@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

A HIGH-RANKING Mongrel Mob member is accused of destroying the car that was used in the manslaughter of Don Henry Turei Jnr at Raukokore last year.

Henare Raukokore Swinton, who is the captain of the Aotearoa Mongrel Mob chapter in Rotorua, previously pleaded not guilty to being an accessory to the manslaughter after the fact and his trial began at the High Court at Hamilton on Monday.

The driver of the van, Porirua Mongrel Mob member Andrew Robert Taiapa, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison earlier this year.

A third man, Jared Renata Te Moana, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for setting the van on fire.

Stuff reported that in her opening statements, crown prosecutor Anna Pollett said there were three significant events that occurred on the day Mr Turei was killed.

On November 26, about 250 people attended a wedding ceremony at Raukokore Church, among them several Tribesmen gang members.

There was also a tangi in the area for a young woman, which several Porirua Mongrel Mob members attended, and an unveiling for a former captain of a local Mongrel Mob chapter.

Tensions came to a head and a truce was called, where the Tribesman agreed to remove their patches when travelling in the area.

However, Turei was unaware of this and about 2.30pm, he and his brother drove past a Mongrel Mob pad wearing their colours.

Taiapa started chasing after Turei in a white Honda Odyssey filled with gang members. When Taiapa caught up with Turei, he rammed the back of his motorcycle, causing the rear wheel to become jammed under the front wheel of the Odyssey.

Turei ended up in a ditch outside the entrance to Pararaki Marae. He died a short time later, despite the efforts of a passing doctor.

Ms Pollett said the gang members from the van then began yelling gang phrases. She said after that, the gang members went back to the gang pad and bragged about the killing.

The white van was then moved to a second location. Later that night, it was moved again to a spot near the Raukokore River, where it was set on fire.

It was found by police several days later. The licence plates had been removed and attempts had been made to remove identifying details.

The Crown alleges that it was during the destruction of the vehicle that Swinton became involved. However, in his opening statement, defence lawyer Jonathan Temm said there was no evidence his client was involved.

The trial is presided over by Justice Pheroze Jagose. It is set down for a week.

WITH the support of the local community, $16,608 has been raised in the Eastern Bay for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society’s 2018 Daffodil Day campaign.

This total includes $2060 raised in Opotiki, $2687 in Kawerau and Edgecumbe and $11,861 in Whakatane.

The cancer society said every dollar dropped into collection buckets or donated online would be spent on supporting New Zealanders with all types of cancer and helping prevent future cancers through education, advocacy and vital research.

“It’s fantastic to see our communities join forces to raise funds and awareness so that together we can help beat cancer.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Eastern Bay community, and would like to thank everyone who supported Daffodil Day this year,” said Catriona Findlay, fundraising manager for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society.

“Daffodil Day in the Eastern Bay is organised and run entirely by volunteers, so a special shout out must go to them for the time and effort they’ve invested to make the local appeal a success.

“We’re also appreciative of the schools, clubs and businesses who get behind Daffodil Day and of course the general public who have donated so generously.”

The cancer society is a non-profit organisation which relies on fundraising, donations and sponsorship to provide its free services and programmes.

“From providing practical and emotional support to helping Kiwis reduce their risk, every dollar goes a long way to make a difference in our communities,” Ms Findlay said.

KUKUMOA Lodge owner Neal Berry says he wants to put the rumours to rest that his property has sold.

“There have been several rumours that I have sold it to a variety of people,” he said.

“There’s no substance to that whatsoever.”

Mr Berry said the fact that the property was no longer being advertised by an agency could be a factor behind the rumour mill going into overdrive.

“The property is still for sale, it’s just not being advertised,” he said.

The property was for sale at a lower price than a recent, independent valuation, due to family reasons.

Mr Berry said he regularly travelled to Gisborne to be with his family.

“I need to be closer to my parents, who are sick,” he said.

“They need me, and my son is over there also.”

OPOTIKI College is opening its doors to prospective students this evening, providing them and their parents with a taste of what the school can offer.

Over two hours, from 6pm, there will be demonstrations of what existing students have learned through the school, and tours of college facilities, according to assistant principal Jenny Mays.

“Because we’ve been aiming for a lot of positive change, we want people to be able to come and see it in action, and really understand what the college is about,” she said.

“It’s so they can make an informed decision – whether it’s year 8s looking to come to the school, or older students.”

Mrs Mays said highlights would be the Kura-ki-Uta kapa haka performance, and a musical performance by students.

“There will also be guided tours around the school and buildings, as well as some interactive displays to learn about our holiday programmes and curriculum.”

Enrolment interviews

Opotiki College enrolment packs will be distributed to year 8 students at primary schools in the district from September 10 through 14.

Enrolment interviews will be held at the following schools:

Omarumutu School – Wednesday, September 12, 6pm
Waiotahe School – Monday, September 17, 10am
St Joseph’s School – Tuesday, September 18, 11.30am
Opotiki Primary School – Wednesday, September 19, 9.30am
Woodlands School – Wednesday, September 19, 9.15am
Ashbrook School – Thursday, September 20, 11am

james.sandbrook@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

A NEW project to provide more housing in Opotiki will make it easier for whanau and residents to find temporary and emergency housing. Whakaatu Whanaunga Trust recently gathered to formally bless the whenua (land) before construction begins on the Kainga Taupua emergency housing project. Funding of $400,000 from the Te Puni Kokiri Maori Housing Network […]

LOCAL councils have been given a share of $8 million to help manage freedom campers during the peak summer season. Both Opotiki and Whakatane district councils have received funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s responsible camping working group. Opotiki District Council has received $50,000, which will be used to rent temporary self-contained […]

ALMOST three times more rain fell in Opotiki last month than the August average.
According to Bay of Plenty Regional Council data, 294 millimetres of rain fell in the town – 89mm more than in August last year and 170mm more than the August average.

The rain caused flooding, slips and put a strain on infrastructure, as well as inconveniencing farmers in a big way.

“You can certainly say it was a wet August,” said regional council data services manager Glenn Ellery.

“Rainfall occurred over 17 wet days in the month – there weren’t any particularly significant events in terms of intensity of the rain, it was more the fact that there was a lot of it spread over the month.”

Mr Ellery noted it was preceded by “a drier than normal July”.

Dairy farmers faced and are facing major issues due to weather, according to dairy farm owner Doug Leeder.

“It just makes running any pastural farming really difficult,” he said.

“It’s been wet for so long now, farm managers and owners are running out of options as far as what to do.”

Mr Leeder said it was difficult to juggle keeping pastures healthy and stock healthy, while also keeping them adequately fed.

“It’s been really challenging across the board.”

Mr Leeder added that wet weather meant wastage was “really high” in pastures as stock could only graze for limited periods before the ground would be damaged, meaning a faster rotation.

“You have to control that, because as a farmer you have to wait until the spring conditions arrive for grass growth to actually keep up with demand,” he said.

Mr Leeder said access was also a problem for farmers, with many unable to navigate their farms efficiently due to the ground conditions.

“It’s just so wet, and that’s evidenced by all the slips we’ve had in the Eastern Bay,” he said.

“It’s just a symptom of the ground being completely hydraulic-ed, in terms of water capacity.”

Catriona and Mark White own a kiwifruit orchard in the Opotiki district, and Mrs White said the rainfall would be a big delay for pruners.

“It’s pruning season at the moment, and you can only prune in the dry weather,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people quite well behind in their pruning, which is a worry.”

Kiwifruit plants must be pruned before coming out of their “dormancy” over winter, something Mrs White said was not far off.

“The sap is starting to flow now, but different varieties and locations have different time periods,” she said.

Taking orchard size, location and contractors into account, Mrs White said some owners could have been pushed weeks behind by weather conditions.

Whakatohea Mussels chief executive Peter Vitasovich said while the rain had little-to-no-impact on the mussels, the accompanying conditions had drawbacks.

“We have probably been impacted by a reduction of working days because of the high winds and swells,” he said.

“The weather conditions have most definitely been extraordinary.”

Wastewater system coped

OPOTIKI’S wastewater system performed well under the pressure of last month’s substantial rainfall.

Opotiki District Council engineering and services group manager Ari Erickson said with the wastewater rehabilitation project there had been significant improvement in the town pump stations, known to be impacted by inflow and infiltration issues.

Mr Erickson said three of the four pump stations in town were now performing much better and only one pump station struggled with the excess rain.

“We have only just entered the second year of the three-year rehabilitation programme, so we are seeing good results considering we are only 30 percent complete.”

He said the stormwater network “performed as expected” under the conditions.

“We didn’t have the high intensity events, which we define as more than 60mm in an hour, but there was a high volume over several days,” he said.

“Improvements are planned for the stormwater system over the next 10 years to address high intensity rainfall which could threaten floor levels.

“Low level ponding that we experienced in recent weeks is less critical and will be addressed over the longer term as the existing stormwater system is renewed and as home owners upgrade their stormwater and connect it to the upgraded system.”

Save our stopbanks

FOLLOWING a wet winter, Bay of Plenty Regional Council is again reminding rural communities to think twice before grazing stock on stopbanks.

Asset management specialist Kirsty Brown said the council managed and maintained almost 352 kilometres of stopbanks across the region to protect people, property and livelihoods.

Wetter soil conditions, combined with heavy animals, could weaken and damage the region’s flood defence systems.

“During winter it is common sense to keep cattle off the stopbanks as much as possible to prevent the pugging and damage they can cause.

“Most farmers and lifestyle block owners know this and manage their stock accordingly, but there have been recent cases of severe damage on these vitally important community-owned assets.

She said good grass cover on a stopbank helped to “knit together” the soil structure underneath, so churned up ground was not just a surface problem, it could cause much greater issues.

“A weakened area could have a disastrous effect on surrounding properties and potentially the wider community.”

It is an offence to damage stopbanks, and landowners can be held liable for any damage.

Minor offences will receive written and verbal warnings, while more serious offences could face abatement notices, fines and prosecution.

“Our rivers and drainage staff keep an eye on our stopbanks to ensure farmers are doing the right thing.

“There is too much at stake to risk flood damage to the properties and surrounding communities,” she said.

james.sandbrook@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

BOTH Maori and Pakeha Opotiki businesses were recognised during the Horizon Business Excellence Awards, held at the Whakatane War Memorial Centre on Saturday night.

The Whakatohea Maori Trust Board won the Toi EDA Economic Award, Opotiki College’s Work Development Ready Pathways won the Link up Toi EDA Award with Te Pou Oranga o Whakatohea highly commended for its work guiding rangatahi into work training and further education, and Motu Trails highly commended in the Toi Ohomai small business award.

Richard Claydon and Robbie Peterson from Waiotahi Contractors won the Sun FM Leadership award.

Whakatohea Maori Trust Board chief executive Dickie Farrar said it was with great expectation that people from across the Eastern Bay gathered to acknowledge recipients for their business excellence.

“There were 11 categories ranging from emerging leaders, rangatahi and the world of work, excellence in small to large business, entrepreneurship, and economic development to name a few,” she said.

Mrs Farrar said winning the economic award was a fantastic achievement for the trust board.

“This award recognised the integrity and hard work of its board members and staff towards a greater vision for Whakatohea … the long-term aspiration of our kaumatua, who began this journey 18 years ago.”

Trust board chairman Robert Edwards described the win as “unexpected”.

“Toi EDA nominated Whaka-tohea for two sections – the connecting rangatahi, education and the world of work award and the excellence in economic development award,” he said.

“We discussed the nomination at our recent board meeting, not realising that we could win it.”

Mr Edwards said the trust board had a tendency to “work below the radar and concentrate on what is important for our iwi and our community”.

“We are honoured and humbled to accept this award on behalf of our people of Whakatohea,” he said.

“Overall, it was a special night, where both Maori and Pakeha businesses were recognised for their excellence,” he said.

The overall winner of the supreme business award was Murupara Four Square.

Other winners in the business awards

• Nova Energy Large Business –
  Disabilities Resource Centre
• Focus Accountants Medium Business – Murupara Four Square; highly commended – Pohutukawa Preschool, Willets Funeral Services, Manawa Honey
• Toi Ohomai Small Business Award – Joint winners, O’Hagans Home Loans and Insurance, Engel Fires; highly commended, Engineering Design Consultants, Motu Trails
• Julian’s Berry Farm Emerging Business – Distinct; highly commended, Drift Store, Waiataha Contracting, The Lightning Hub
• Best Practice Awards – New World Emerging Leader, Amanda Kirk; highly commended, Charelle Stevenson
• Link up Toi EDA Award – Work ready Pathways Opotiki College; highly commended, YTWO Te Pou Oranga o Whakatohea
• Disabilities Resource Centre Excellence in Service Creativity Positive Attitude – Diane Maxwell
• Sun FM Leadership Award – Robbie Peterson and Richard Claydon
• Te Wananga o Awanuiarangi Business Entrepreneurship Award –Manawa Honey
• Toi EDA Economic Development Award –Whakatohea Maori Trust Board
• Bay of Connections Sustainability Award – Trident High School

AS world markets react to the increasing desire for organic milk, more dairy farmers are thinking of converting to meet the demand.

Managers Desma Feakins and Whare Teepa have worked at Tataiwhetu Farm in Ruatoki for 12 years but things changed when they switched to producing organic milk.

Though it is uncertain whether switching to organic made the difference, they have seen improved herd fitness within the first year of certification.

“We didn’t really have many problems last season with animal health,” Miss Feakins said.

“Our cows’ health is better overall. We don’t have to drench, and we also don’t use palm kernel.”

Though many aspects of the work have changed since going organic, the basic problems remain the same.

“Pasture control is still the most challenging part of the work – that and the climate,” Mr Teepa said.

Operating under a land trust, the 195-hectare property began the transition to organic four years ago. Three years were dedicated to preparing the land.

It takes 36 months without inputs such as synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or genetically modified seeds before a field can be certified organic.

None of the milk produced at the farm can be sold as organic until the transition has ended – in spite of everything being done according to organic practice.

Miss Feakins said in spite of knowing there would be benefits once the certification was finished, the stress of the process was intense.

“I have to say that there were times Whare and I considered chucking it in,” she said.

And there is no guarantee of smooth sailing once a farm is certified organic.

Bad climatic conditions can take a toll on the land just as much as with traditional farming methods.

Mr Teepa said seasonal changes still brought uncertainty.

“You don’t know from season to season what things will be like,” he said.

They reduced the size of the herd to 450 cows compared to a pre-conversion herd of 580.

That change allows them a more efficient herd management process, resulting in fewer headaches.

“The drop in our stocking rate has taken some of the pressure off,” Miss Feakins said.

With calving near, the herd was recently given a pregnancy check by veterinarian Travis Baxter with Bay Vets. This is one of the most important procedures for dairy farmers as they determine how many cows will birth and when.

A NEW initiative between Pukehina and Opotiki surf lifesaving clubs looks set to go again in 2021.

The clubs came together and organised an event for the kids with numerous surf lifesaving challenges given an extra twist.

It was held in fantastic conditions and a barbecue was also held after the event
Opotiki junior surf coach Lia Seufert said it was about giving other children an opportunity.

“Some of the children aren’t that confident and don’t really want to compete competitively so we thought something like this might be a good chance for them to have a bit of fun and still enjoy themselves.’’

A good turnout was had by both clubs.
Pukehina, who are a small club like Opotiki, were the perfect fit for the fun day.

Seufert said the turnout was good and they hoped it would be back next year.

‘‘It was a good way for the children at the clubs to interact and have a bit of fun, but also get them taking part in some form of activity.’’

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brayden.lindsay@thebeacon.co.nz

STUDENTS of Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa have taken top placements in the Maori Battalion Ngarimu Video Competition.

Teacher Kerrin Mato said the purpose of the competition was to honour the legacy of Victoria Cross winner Second Lieutenant Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu and other members of the 28th Maori Battalion.

Taking first place in the te reo Maori section was Manaia Rangihuna, whose entry focused on her grandfather, Te Rei Rangihuna.

“My koro Te Rei Rangihuna died three weeks before the war ended,” she said.

“I was fortunate enough to travel to Faenza Italy to pay my respects to him in 2018. My video was dedicated to him.”

In the English section, Futura Butler, Zharn Pokoati, Peter Grant and Carlos Paovale claimed first place with a submission on the centenary of the hui aroha, a ceremony held to welcome back Maori Pioneer Battalion soldiers from World War I.

“Participating in the hui aroha was rewarding because we learnt how to march and dressed in WW1 period uniforms,” Futura said. “Marching through Gisborne replicated the Maori Pioneers coming home. I chose to make our video on this important kaupapa.

“Having a digital copy of our experience can be kept for others to learn about and enjoy,” Futura said.

In second place in the te reo Maori section were Te Ahimana Mato and Nepia Mato, whose submission was on their grandfather Leonard Helmbright, a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) recipient of Charlie Company.

“Our koro Leonard Helmbright was a brave man who fought in World War II,” Te Ahimanawa said.

“He was awarded a DCM for his heroic actions by taking out three machine gun posts on the river Pesa in San Cassiano in the advance to Florence battle in Italy.

“I enjoyed learning about my koro and sharing my video with my family. One day I hope to go to Italy to see where the river Pesa is,” Te Ahimanawa said.

“The intention of this competition was to promote study and encourage the maintenance of the Maori language and Maori history, tradition and culture as it pertains to the Maori Battalion,” teacher Ms Mato said.

“Our school places an importance in learning about the 28th Maori Battalion because our students are direct
descendants of the soldiers who fought in Charlie Company.

“We follow the footsteps of our tipuna (ancestors), hence the reason we take our students and whanau overseas on Maumahara Tours.

“We are very fortunate to be guided each year by Sir Wira Gardiner,” Ms Mato said.

These trips include destinations such as Greece, Crete, Italy, Turkey (Gallipoli) and Egypt, learning about both world wars.

“They have learnt about the battlefields that they fought in,” Ms Mato said.

“They have established key relationships with youth in every country. Positive relationships are important with people in these countries so that war never happens again,” she said.

She added the placements in the competition meant the Ministry of Education and the Ngarimu Trust awarded the school and students with cash prizes totalling $8,250, which the school will be using to buy additional equipment or future video projects.

james.sandbrook@opotikinews.co.nz

THE Opotiki RSA is changing with the times, including cutting back operations to four days a week.

As of February 10, the bar will be closed on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, RSA president Paeone Goonan said.

The restaurant will be open only on Fridays and Saturdays for dinner, and also available for functions at other times.

“It’s the times,” she said.

“We’re just not having business like it used to be.”

Secretary and manager Moana Irving agreed, noting that many RSAs around the country were facing similar difficulties.

In spite of the three days being closed for normal business, Ms Goonan said the RSA would still be available to be booked as a venue for events.

Ms Goonan said one of the reasons behind the reductions was that many long-time members had died, and youth were not utilising the space.

The RSA is looking to encourage youth to come down with events and initiatives, and she said she wanted younger people to know they were welcome.

“Just so young people know they can come down.”

“We’ve also reduced membership fees.”

Now, a “taster” membership can be picked up, which will last from February to June at a cost of $25, for prospective members to give it a go and see how they like it.

In the hopes of keeping doors open, Ms Goonan said the group had also been running fundraisers, including its own membership draws, fun days and more.

But, moving forward, Ms Goonan said the organisation would also be welcoming donations and encouraging new memberships.

“If things don’t pick up, we will have no choice but to close the doors,” she said.

james.sandbrook@opotikinews.co.nz