1.Wa i n u i B e a c h m a ko r o r i s p o n g e B ay M A G A Z I N E ISSUE 1/SPRING 2008Free to every home at the beach | norfolk pines last stand| wainuis first olympian? Weddings: Page 16 | post reticulation submission blues| your septic tank and you| keeping up with mrs jonessurfing: Page 40 The Day The Whales DiedBaby Boom: Page 18Premiere issue: 44 pages of news, views and infor mation beach/life | 1

2. M A G A Z I N E contents views and opinions4 A community forum. Email views and opinions to views@beach-life.co.nz Delivered free to every home from Sponge Bay to Makorori. whats upPublished four times a year.6 All the news. Look who turned up at rugby training Wainui school kids have an All..................................Black show them a few moves. A proposed national standard for septic tanks? Do we PuBliShed and PRinTed BY really want to see the Norfolk Pines removed from the beachfront? No 50kmh speed limitalong Moana Road. A walkway under the Okitu Bridge, whos excellent idea was that?Gray Clapham Design ArtsAnd, at long last, safety railings on the bridge, was that overdue or what? Local boy Mike..................................Kings big push to make the New Zealand bobsled team for the next Winter Olympics. Allabout the new Wainui Store. The Tsunami Bar is on the market. Wainui school old boy KurtediTORial ManaGeRMastrovich is flying high and Ray Morgans mean, keen and ready to clean.Gray Clapham90 Moana Roadwedding bells & beach babes Wainui Beach15 Find out whos been exchanging vows lately and meet the new kids on the block. GisbornePhone 868 0240 our issuesFax 867 701019 Post Reticulation Submission BluesA look back at the sewerage reticulation saga. We won the battle, but now its time to front all leTTeRS, aRTiCleS &up to sorting out a sustainable future with our on-site waste water systems. We look at theCORReSPOndenCe TO GDCs suggestions as to how this can be achieved and plans to set up a collaborationinfo@beach-life.co.nz23 Your septic tank and you: living with your on-site system..................................Its one of your most important and expensive chattels. But how much do you really knowabout your septic tank. Practical advice from the experts about how to live a long andadVeRTiSinGhappy life with your on-site system.Gray ClaphamPhone 868 0240 our historyFax 867 701026 The day the whales died adverts@beach-life.co.nz On a stormy March day in 1970 59 sperm whales swam into the shallows at the northern..................................end of Wainui Beach and died in a seething, bleeding mass. It was a tragic event that hasbecome part of the history of Wainui Beach.All issues will be archived afterpublication on the websitewww.beach-life.co.nz our people30 Keeping up with Mrs JonesThe story of Muriel Jones, the First Lady of the Beach. Shes been on this Earth for 82years and for most of that time shes been doing things to help other people. We look backat a remarkable life. our community35 School, club and organisation news. Let us know about your group. small adverts37 Tradespeople, local businesses, notices. Historical photographs and assistance our surf courtesy Tairwhiti Museum48 Wave Rave with Kelly Ryan. Surf stories, results and what the groms are up to.2 | beach/life 3. inTro Publishers Comment | by Gray ClaphamOut of the sand and into the fireDuring the Wainui Beach reticulation SuBmiSSionS hearingS a giSBorne heralD heaDline reporteD: Wainui haS Woken up. It went on to say: Okitu resident Gray Clapham told district Then people were being offered a million dollars and after that it councillors during submissions on the annual plan yesterday, that became a little boring if you werent on the market. proposed reticulation and the uncertainty of costs to homeownersThen just as suddenly it was all over. Or so it appears for the had woken up the seaside community. moment. While Wainui has established itself as a sought afterThat was reflected in the hundreds of submissions received from location, real estate price expectations have certainly reversed. You Wainui residents, he said. We are serious about Wainuis future. can almost hear the community taking its first real breath in seven orWell, I dont know why they picked me out, but I do think theso years. reticulation issue was most certainly a wake up call.And then along came the reticulation proposal which, after yearsWainui homeowners opened their eyes to the realisation thatof uncertainty, was suddenly thrust upon us as an almost done deal. they werent actually in control of their futures. We were faced withSuddenly we had something to really worry about, rather than rates increases of unprecedented proportions. Many may have beenhow to spend the millions we might make on our properties. And, forced to leave the beach. People who had been quietly going aboutwhile the real estate boom, in hindsight seemed to separate and their lives were suddenly shaken awake and were being told: If you isolate the community, the reticulation issue reunified and refocused cant bite the bullet, you might have to leave.us. Or most of us. I am talking about the 416 people who went toI was also quoted in the Herald (unwittingly) as saying I hadthe trouble to write detailed and often heartfelt submissions against decided to pull my head out of the sand. I am not sure whetherthe proposal. this referred to the sand on the beach, or the sand in the bunkersWhile there must be those who are annoyed that we wont at Poverty Bay but either way it was a bit of an embarrassing have city sewerage and water connections in the near future, the confession. But it did wake me up.submissions against the proposal gave a head count, an incidental For several years I have been meaning to revive this communityconsensus of what this community is thinking and feeling. news publication. Some may remember the Wainui mini-magazines I The submissions delved way deeper than the virtues and published in the early and mid 1990s. Beachside was printed through technicalities of reticulation. There emerged the outline of a mission 1994, then revived again as Beachlife in 1996.statement from the Wainui community.They were well-received and a great success, but time-consumingPeople were referring to our village, our old people, our (there was no email then, can you believe it?) and not-so-cost- children, our futures. They spoke of their desire to retain a close effective at a time when I was trying to build a new business.and caring community with a diverse population. Eventually the next issue was late, and then as time wore on, People were saying they were wary of new development, that high remained unpublished. density housing was not necessarily progress, that Wainui was not So here we are, 12 years on, and I have decided to pull my headall about coastal real estate. out of the sand and give it another lash.It was, possibly, a blood-letting in the wake of the real estate A lot has changed at Wainui over that 12 years and, in otherboom. A chance to say: We choose to live here for reasons other ways, much has stayed the same. than real estate investment: the surf, the beach, the rural outlook, We went on a rollercoaster ride through the new millenniumthe quiet streets, the social life, the sense of community. and then were immediately whisked away on the ferris wheel of theThere was re-assertation of identity. We stood up and said: Hey, coastal real estate boom. this is our place, this is where we live, so bugger off. One day someone decided that a sea view, or even the sniff of a So thats what this publication is really about. A celebration of sea view, had value. The rest is history. that identity. And a vehicle for community focus and reflection and, For those who werent that fussed about Wainui living, and whohopefully, an intelligent read and a whole lot of fun. decided to sell up and move on, it was a windfall. For those who So, here we go with the first issue, or actually, the very late arrival were working towards a move to the beach it was the end of a of the next issue of Beach/Life magazine. dream. For those who had no intention of leaving, it was exciting to Please help me with it. The pages are open for the whole watch albeit unsettling.community to utilise. In this new age of instant communication by What do you reckon your place is worth now? was the email it will be so much easier, than it was before, to send in articles conversation starter at most social gatherings. and news items for this magazine. How much would it take for you to sell? someone would ask.With the communitys help Beach/Life will celebrate all our We have no intention of selling, but if someone knocked on the small and major successes, help air the big issues, go in search of door and offered me a million, I reckon Id take it, was often the the facts, champion the causes, and do all those things a vibrant reply.community publication should do.beach/life | 3 4. views and opinions septic tank tipsSend you views and opinions to views@beach-life.co.nz wanted WHAT ABOuT INCLuDING AA local issue, but a global perspective healthy Septic Tank Tips column inLIKE MOST OR POSSIBLY ALL WHO WERE INvOLvED IN THE PROCESS OF STOPPING THE Beach/Life with people sharing thereticulation proposal I am happy with the outcome. Looking back on the whole thing now it is tips they have grown up with or learnthard to believe how all consuming the thing was for a few months. I feel we not only achieved from experience. I was taught as athe result we wanted but we also won well. We persuaded Council with the merits of our kid by my mother and grandmotherargument and have emerged with good relationships intact. It was my first foray into politics never to pour Dettol solution down theof any kind and on balance I found it interesting and worthwhile. It was especially interesting plughole after bathing cuts, and thusreading the views of others (many of whom I had never met) and seeing the issue through their always to use a bowl for the Dettoleyes. solution and never the bathroom basin The business at hand now is for all of us to walk the talk by working out practical steps to or bath. Likewise when Napisan camesustainably manage our environment. I have looked over draft recommendations from GDC and along. And we were told not to pourfeel comfortable with most of them. The concern some of us had was that of winning a Pyrrhic milk down the sink either, unless maybevictory whereby the imposed conditions would have been worse than the original proposal. I am if we put heaps of water down with it. I confident that this will not be the case. While there are still details to work out, the spirit of the have absolutely no idea why - will ask recommendations was positive and most of the points were those many of us had suggested in my 80 year old Mum!our submissions. Now that people have the certainty, it becomes worth their while to do the right Jennie haRRe hindMaRSh thing and be good stewards of our local environment. EDITOR: Good idea. It would also be While we all had varying reasons for our opposition, there were several strong themes which great to get a list of suggested septiccame out in the submissions (yes, I have read them all). The clearest to emerge was that we all tank friendly detergents, soap powders,dearly value what we have here. We like the absence of development and we like the diversity bath soap, etc. Readers please email of the community. Many residents made reference to other beachside locations that they hoped your healthy Septic Tank Tips to Wainui would not become (the McMansion-ed variety). views@beach-life.co.nz. Next of course was the financial impact on the lives of a large proportion of residents earningless than was popularly supposed by the wider community. I think this genuinely surprised a lotof councillors. The rising coastal land values from 2002-2005 had us all in the rich category,regardless of individual circumstances. Become aProbably the aspect that pleased me the most from a personal position was finally gettingsome traction on the stormwater link to beach erosion. It is one thing to buy on the beachfrontand accept the risks that your property may get washed away, but it is quite another when Beach/Life Council sanctions activities which exacerbate that risk. We have a delicate balance to maintainand it is a relief that there are now plans to mitigate some of problems created with previousstormwater management (which was basically, get a really big pipe and run it out to the beach as voluntarydirectly as possible).Another recurrent theme was that of sustainability. It was impressive to see that so many inthe community were in tune with the wider issues here regarding the total ecological footprint of subscriber and the reticulation option, as opposed to well managed on-site systems. I believe energy will be thebig issue of the next few decades. Large scale, centralised infrastructure projects will no longerstack up as well as they have while energy has been relatively cheap. Rainwater, gravity fed into help Wainuistanks and disposed of on site, has in my view, a more sustainable future than the energy andcapital intensive centralised model. If not being able to water lawns, wash cars or get our shirtsspotlessly white is the price, then I am more than happy to pay it. michael KingWorld wide, the concept that there are limits to growth and that we need to limit our ownimpact on the environment is becoming main stream. It is no longer the preserve of the hippiesor the greenies to step more lightly on the Earth. It will be forced on all of us soon enough with become our first electricity and fuel costs anyway. I am choosing my words carefully in this section because inmy recent experience, this is an unpopular world view. It is however the emerging reality. The eraof cheap energy and resources is over and our lifestyles will have to change. Peak oil (the point ever olympic where demand exceeds available supply) appears to be happening now.This will profoundly alter the economics of the way we inhabit the landscape and the waywe look to the future. The Earths population has more than doubled in my lifetime and the athlete. middle classes of China and India can now afford the lifestyles that we have been enjoyingand showcasing for the last 40-50 years. While I am not suggesting it is time yet to go back togrowing our own food and prepare for the apocalypse, the small victory of retaining some on-site see page 15. life support is especially satisfying in this context. andRew dOnaldSOn 4 | beach/life 5. views and opinions Send you views and opinions to views@beach-life.co.nz THERE ARE MANY THINGS AT WAINuI As good as it gets? and Makorori we need to know more about. There are issues, problems, things that arent We dont think so ... always quite right in this little patch of coast we like to think of as pretty special. Things that could be made better.the place on trail bikes. Today, everything What sort of things? Theres a long list headlands overlooking the coast, are wellhas to be governed, everything has to be really, if you use your imagination. looked after and landscaped to enhance theircorrect. There is a new management plannatural beauty. One thing that has come out of thefor the reserve. The plan, in its own words, submissions hearings is that beach peoplehas been prepared to assist in the day- What about the walkway and cycle like to think of themselves as a bit green to-day management of the reserve, whilsttrack? Weve been going on about this for in the eco-friendly meaning of the word. meeting long term management objectives.over 20 years. Im worried Ill be too old to There seems to be a feeling out thereIt sets out a framework to provide for passiveuse it, if its ever realised. It would seem such that we could make the beach somerecreational use and access to Wainui a simple thing; a strip of pavement from the sort of environmentally sensitive, earth-Beach, while enhancing the fragile foredune city boundary at Rutene Road to Oneroa caring enclave. Not a bad aspiration but landscape. Work on implementing this Road. It is genuinely needed. We love to walk we certainly have a lot of work to do in plan is quietly beginning with the removal of and we love to bike to town. But the strip that direction. The septic tank problem is exotic plant pests from the reserve. Seeof Highway 35 from Sponge Bay to Oneroa discussed elsewhere in this issue, but it will our full story on the removal of the PhoenixRoad is really too dangerous for walking be, and is, one of the biggest issues we all Palms and Norfolk Pines on page 8.and cycling, and there have been deaths face.to prove it. Where is the cycle track and For so long the beaches have been leftwalkway scheme stuck at the moment? The Forestry trucks! In our next issueto exist naturally. But you could also saynew Sponge Bay development has allowed (December) well be looking at the issue ofthey have been left to deteriorate naturally.for a three metre strip of reserve land along road safety on Highway 35, forestry trucks The beaches today are very different fromits boundary to accommodate such a track. and timber flow in general. Whats the what they would have been before roads,Lets go, lets get it done. Petrol prices are forecast? Just how many trucks can wehousing, farming and tree felling. Manyrising daily, we need to get on our bikes expect to see (and hear) rattling through ourparts of our coastline, from Sponge Bay toagain. (quiet) beachside community. Tatapouri, are in a sort of benign neglect asa legacy to human occupation over the past On the subject of development how Then theres the erosion of the beach100 years. Can we restore these places? will new housing development continue at front. A huge issue and a huge threat. This isShould we tidy them up? Tuahine Headlandthe beach in the wake of the rejection of the such a long and on-going saga I think mostis a fast eroding piece of geography. Mustreticulation proposal? Do we or dont we of us, those not immediately threatened byit continue to crumble into the sea? Canwant to see Wainui grow, have more houses, the encroaching sea, have almost forgottenanything really be done to stop the headlandmore people, maybe a viable shopping about it. Winter, as usual, has deliveredfrom eroding through? What new forces ofcentre one day? Are we, in fact, being selfish some huge southerly seas, sweeping awaythe nature will Wainui face up to without its if we dont want to allow others to enjoy acres of sand overnight, tugging away atprotective embrace? life at the beach? Is there a compromise the lands edge. What is the reality of beachbetween the Papamoa experience and what erosion today at Wainui? Whats the latest The Makorori Point lookout area iswe have at the moment? on this front? What will global warming do another place thats long needed tidying to our beachfront landscape? Another major up. This neglected, pot-holed, often-a-All interesting issues. All areas of much concern this magazine hopes to look into indumping ground, commands one of New potential debate. Thats been the purpose future issues. Zealands iconic ocean views. (The wholeof this column; to kick-start an era ofworld saw it in Whale Rider!) Yet, close-up,discussion, healthy argument and community Whats the future of Lysnar Reserve?its dangerous and an eyesore. A favouriteawareness through the pages of this How fortunate we are that the Lysnar familyplace for tossing over empty kina shells, fishmagazine. left this strip of undeveloped coastal dune land overlooking the sea. What a treasurecarcasses and paua guts, not to mentionCommunication is much easier these days, it is. Imagine if Moana Road was hiddenthe odd car body. Anywhere else on Earth it we are in the middle of a communication from the ocean behind a string of beachwould be a heritage site. Who actually owns revolution in fact. I invite all residents to get houses similar to Wairere Road. In the pastthis lookout? Can anything be done to makeon their keyboards to write and email. All is was just good enough that it was there as it a decent place for people to pull over and communications will be treated with care, common land that anyone could utilise with watch the surf, view the sunrise, take photos respect and given space. little restriction. Some dumped their lawn of the sweep of Makorori? Those who have The beach is a great place to live, and clippings in the dunes, people planted wildtravelled the east coast of Australia willit could be so much better. Lets get some flowers and exotic trees. Kids charged overknow that such places, hundreds of lovely things done. ediTORbeach/life | 5 6. whats up?Proposed national environmental standard for on-site wastewater systems THE GOvERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A national environmental standard for the inspection of septic tank systems.The proposal is that regional councils will Back Row (right to left): Rico Gear, Michael Bloxham, Tame Curtis, Sefton Harrison, Kosta require property owners in certain areas to Atsalis. Rear: Karl Geiseler, (Assistant Coach). hold a current warrant of fitness (WOF) for Middle Row: Luke Simperingham, Jeremy Gray, Kelly Geiseler, Ben McCulloch, (captain) Front Row: Jacques Klavs, (vice captain), Leroy Shaw, Jonti Cox, Kobe Johnson their septic tank system. Not Pictured: Wiremu King-Taufa, Wayne Bloxham, (Coach). To obtain a WOF, a system would be required to pass an inspection every threeWaynes Warriors catch All Black attentionyears. Regional councils would identify the areas where the standard would apply. ITS NOT OFTEN THAT AN ALL BLACK TuRNS uP TO YOuR TRAINING SESSION WHENThe Ministry for the Environment will be youre a primary school kid, but thats exactly what happened for the OBM Wainui Warriors running a series of public workshops to under 10-year-olds rugby team last term. explain the proposed standard.MFE says it has been estimated that in Leanne Harrison of Douglas Street, one of the boys parents, happened to approach Rico some regions at least 20 per cent of homes Gear, who was home from England recently to visit friends and family. When asked to make rely upon on-site wastewater treatment. a special visit to see her sons team, Rico didnt hesitate to accept the offer and also co-The MFE website says for the proposed opted his friend and Poverty Bay legend Kahu Tamatea, (prior to his move to Ireland), to help standard to operate effectively there needs take the team through some All Black drills. to be an adequate pool of suitably skilled Coach Wayne Bloxham described the reaction on the boys faces as: Priceless mouths inspectors. The mechanics of just how the wide open, absolutely awestruck! inspectors would be involved in the national It was a great thrill for the boys (and parents) and testament to Ricos great characterenvironmental standard process have been putting the time back in with school kids in the district. Rico commented how quick the boyspurposely left open to allow flexibility for picked up on the drills and commented that they were advanced for their years.councils in terms of how they choose to Playing under the Banner of the OBM Club, the Wainui Warriors have been lucky to fieldapproach this. their entire team from Wainui School. Team unity is strong theyre all mates and their squad GDC chief executive Lindsay McKenzie has largely remained the same for the past four seasons.told Beach/Life the MFE proposal doesnt fundamentally change anything with regard The entire time theyve had the benefit of dedicated father and coach, Wayne Bloxham, to a sewage disposal planning partnership whos done an incredible job with these boys. Wayne makes the drive from Whangara twice with Wainui. a week for practice and, on the occasion when Wayne cant make it down from the farm, hesThe need to plan/partner is probably brought the team to him an afternoon in the yards, drafting sheep never hurt rugby players! more compelling than before. The NationalIn the competition games, Wainui remained unbeaten until a recent deadlock-breaker Environmental Standards will set some against OBM Crusaders, played as a curtain raiser at Rugby Park recently. Only a try in the bottom lines but it is still important to final minute of the game resulted in a 10-5 loss to the beach side. get community support for what the NESWayne, who has been short-listed as one of six Gisborne finalists out of 3800 nationally for requires, or something better, if desired. the New Zealand volunteer Coach of the year award, modestly credits much of the successOur commitment to following up with to the boys fitness. But sideline observers have noticed the ability of the boys to play as athe Wainui community is on a broader, cohesive unit and more structured rugby is what has so far distinguished them from theirsustainability platform anyway, so waste opponents.disposal is just one part. However Wayne is credited with more than just the consistent results. What is more Any person can make a submission pleasing is his strict code of sportsmanship and inspiring of the boys to play as a team. on the proposed standard. Submissions Without a doubt there are a couple in the team destined for greater playing honours, butmust be forwarded to the Ministry for the Wayne has instilled positive team values in all the boys, a sense of discipline and a genuine Environment, PO Box 10362, Wellington or enthusiasm for rugby based on his own passion for the game. by email to standards@mfe.govt.nz in time to be received no later than 5.00pm on So if youre driving past the Wainui School on a cold, wet Monday or Friday evening and 26 September 2008. wondering who the dedicated team are training under instructions from a man wearing aGo to www.mfe.govt.nz website. swandri and farmers hat toot your horn or wave out, because now youre know its Waynes Warriors! 6 | beach/life 7. whats up?exotic trees to be phased out of Wainui reservesA MATuRE PHOENIX PALM IN LYSNAR Reserve, just opposite the Douglas Street tee-junction with the Highway, was cut down recently the beginning of a systematic phasing out of exotic plants from the reserve.Why was it cut down? GDCs community facilities asset manager Terry McMillan says the tree was removed as part of the WD Lysnar and Wainui Reserve Management Plan to remove exotic trees from all reserves at Wainui Beach.This was not a one-off action as, following the intent of the Reserve Management Plan, all Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis), also known as Phoenix palms, will be removed from Lysnar Reserve over time, probably within the next two years. Some may be transplanted, if possible. So, what other exotic trees will beBELEAGUERED ICONS: A view to the eroding lighthouse framed by a lone Norfolk pine. The GDCs removed. Whats the fate of Okitus iconicLysnar and Wainui Reserve Management Plan will see the singular pine tree removed. Norfolk pine trees? The Norfolk pines at the Pines will Pohutukawa trees will remain even though rank grass, agapanthus, pampas grass, aloe remain, but all the others will be removed,they are not originally native to the area. and wild ginger. over the next five years, says Terry McMillan. Pohutakawa trees were planted at the The only exception are the exotic Norfolk This should not come as a surprise, he southern end of the beach over 50 years Pines at the Pines dune-top, where the says. The WD Lysnar and Wainui Reserve ago for beautification purposes. Later, inpine trees are a cultural landscape feature Management Plan was prepared over a 12 1977, Wainui Lions Club planted Pohutakawaand provide stability on the dune-face. month period and widely consulted on. It trees on the Moana Road beachfront as farHowever, if any of these trees poses a was released in draft and received about as the Chalet and, in the late 1980s, Project threat to public safety, they will be removed 200 submissions. These were considered Crimson planted Pohutakawa trees furtherand not replanted. Instead, indigenous by Council, the Plan amended and finally northward.vegetation suitable for erosion control, such adopted earlier this year.The concept is to leave all reserves atas flaxes will be planted.The Management Plan notes that theWainui Beach in a natural state. The Ear-marked for clearing is the grove of reserves are currently home to a range ofManagement Plan points to community exotic plants opposite 125 Moana Road. introduced plants such as Norfolk pines, feedback during submissions which Residents will be advised of this and will Canary Island palms, agapanthus, ginger andsupported retaining Lysnar Reserve in its be offered the chance to take plants for re- aloe plants. natural state. Natural state has been planting in their own gardens.interpreted by GDC staff and the community The Council plans to provide Wainuias long stretches of dunes and dune residents with information on appropriategrasses.indigenous species for coastal planting and Therefore, to achieve this natural state erosion control and to invite residents to joinexotic species are to be removed throughout a community care initiative to stabilise thethe reserve using a phased approach.dunes in front of their property. The main recreation areas of Pines, This dune care programme would beHamanatua Stream, Wainui Surf Club, extended along the length of the WainuiStockroute, Chalet and Northern Carpark-Beach foreshore with near-by residents beingWhales Graves will be the priority areas. invited to participate in planting programmes. This means the overall eradication of all This would entail the new planting ofexotic plant pests along the entire length of indigenous species as appropriate alongthe reserve.eroding dune foreshore areas (grasses), Plant pests ear-marked for removal include and small gully slips, waterway and riparian EXOTIC PESTS: At least another half dozen Canary Island palms will be phased out fromnot only the Norfolk pines and the Phoenixmargins (including flax, toi toi and grasses). the Reserve over the next couple of years. palms but also weed infestations such as For the eroding steep country of the beach/life | 7 8. Makorori Headland, suggested indigenous plants include Tawapou, Whau, Hebe no 50km speed restrictionlikely for moana road Tairawhiti, Taupata (coprosma repens), Karaka and Pohutakawa. Puriri and Kohekohe could be put in at a later stage.The Council will maintain, trim and thin new trees and young seedling Pohutakawas under established canopies while retaining residents view shafts.Priority will be given to removing exotic plants from the Whales Grave site and replacing these with indigenous plants such as cabbage trees, flax and karo.Beach/Life made a visual inventory of Phoenix palms and Norfolk pines currently thriving within the reserve:From the north there is a row of six Norfolk pines at the north end of the beach at the base of the headland. There are three healthy, established Norfolk pines within the fenced area of the whales grave site.There a two singular mature pines opposite 84 and 87 Moana Road, there are SAFE CROSSING: Bonnie Grealish of Lysnar Street leads sister Meg, with Jo and Tadhg in tow, also two Phoenix palms in this general area. across the Hamanatua bridge at Okitu. The speed limit is to remain at 70kmh.There a two more pines and two PhoenixA LOCAL PETITION CALLING FOR A 50a visual narrowing of the highway to palms at the north end of the Chalet carkilometre per hour speed restriction along encourage drivers to slow down. Threshold park. A further two more pine trees andMoana Road has been unsuccessful but signs create a gateway effect which also two more Phoenix palms sprout from thethe petition has prompted Transit Newhighlights the change in the speed limit. bushy grove opposite the Chalet. A largeZealand to look at placing traffic andThe other initiative has already been and obvious Phoenix palm stands close topedestrian safety measures along thatcompleted and well received by the Okitu the edge of the highway opposite 44 Moanasuburban stretch of Highway 35.community. That is the pedestrian safety Road. There are three pines between the Work on safety railings and a new under-work around the Hamanatua Bridge. Okitu Store and the Pines car park. Liningbridge footpath at the Hamanatua Bridge The construction of a looping paved the sand dunes within the Pines car parkare a result of that petition, says Transit NZ pathway from the land side of the bridge are a line of six more pines (which are so farregional network manager, Gordon Hart. walkway, under the bridge and into the Okitu exempt from removal). However, the speed restriction alongLagoon carpark, avoiding the necessity forThere are a dozen staked new NorfolkMoana Road will remain at 70kmh. pedestrians to cross the highway, came as a pine plantings in a regrowth zone closer to Mr Hart says the petition was taken welcome surprise to residents recently. the road, some now a high as five metres.seriously and focused attention on the safety Then followed the swift erection of crashThere are two pines in the Wainuiof Moana Road, but it just didnt meet the barriers and safety fences on both sides of surf club car park area, planted by clubcriteria that is required for a speed reduction. the bridge. members in the 1980s. There are two more Its not the end of the equation though, Wainui school principal Nolian Andrews across the stream at the south edge of thehe told Beach/Life. Things do change andsays the work at the bridge has been Okitu Lagoon car park.we will keep monitoring the situation. Its notwelcomed by the school which actively The Canary Island Date Palm Treejust a matter of sticking to some rule bookencourages children to walk to school.(Phoenix canariensis) are native to theon this, we have to use commonsense. The safety issue of Okitu children crossingCanary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off He says one of the tests of the suitability the busy highway to get to the seawardthe coast of northeast Africa. They havefor imposing a reduced speed restriction side of the road and then crossing thebecome popular landscape trees inon a stretch of highway is if there can be a unprotected bridge was of major concern.warm climates around the world and,realistic expectation of observance of that Okitu parents who walk their children towhen pruned and trimmed, can grow asrestriction by motorists.school are very happy with the new safetyhigh as 100 feet. He points out that there are constant measures. Its about time, seems to be the The Norfolk pine (Araucariaand numerous requests for similar speedconsensus.heterophylla), is not a true pine treerestriction reductions from all over NewThe prospect of being caught mid-bridgeand is in fact a native of the SouthZealand. with a pushchair and two school kids, facingPacific. As its vernacular name NorfolkHowever, he says, initiatives are already a fully laden logging truck doing 70kmh hasIsland Pine implies, the tree is endemicunderway to make Moana Road safer and to long been a parents nightmare.to Norfolk Island, a small island in thereinforce the existing 70kmh restriction. The threshold gateway sign before thePacific Ocean between Australia, New This summer, what Transit NZ callsbridge on the town side is hoped to reinforceZealand and New Caledonia. The genusthreshold gateways will be erected at each the speed limit change from 100 to 70kmh,Araucaria occurs across the South entrance to the 70kmh stretch area.further enhancing the safety of crossing thePacific. These are large signs which provide Hamanatua Stream.8 | beach/life 9. Family dining at wainui Beachs bar and brasserie Market Fresh Fish21.50 Tsunami Pizzas (Dine In or Takeaway)Large 18.00 Small 9.50 Beer battered or pan fried served with golden fries, garden salad and> Gourmet Meat Lovers Salami, chorizo & cured ham, herbed potato, house made tartar sauceonion jam & fresh herbs Scotch Fillet (200g) 24.50 > Vegetarian Roast pumpkin, feta, sun dried tomato, pine nuts, babyspinach & balsamic reduction Cooked to your liking served on creamy mashed potato or steak fries, > Tomato Cherry tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, capers, Spanish winter vegetables with a red wine and peppercorn jus onion, fresh basil & Parmesan cheese> Smoked Salmon Goats cheese, Spanish onion, cherry tomatoes, Primo Beef Burger (180g) 16.50baby spinach & capers Served with crispy bacon, tasty cheese, salad, tomato and home made relish. With fries or kumara wedges on the sideEntreesTsunami Chicken Burger 16.50 Garlic and herbed bread > 7.50Skewers: > 11.50 Tasty pieces of grilled chicken, crispy bacon, brie, cranberry sauce, salad, > Saki and ginger marinated beef with sweet soy tomato and aioli in a warm bun with fries or kumara wedges> Chilli and garlic prawn with lime & coriander sauce Lamb Shanks 1 shank 17.50 | 2 shanks 25.00 Soup of the day with fresh bread > 10.50Crispy limed spiced squid with dipping sauce and side salad > 12.50 Slow braised with seasonal vegetables, red wine and Italian herbs served on creamy mashed potatoBar Snacks The Tsunami Antipasto Platter (to share) 36.50 Garlic and herbed bread > 7.50 A luxurious spread of cured meats, seafood and New Zealand cheeses,Bread and dips with by gourmet deli products, homemade dips and warm breads Warm selection of oven fresh breads & house made dips > 10.00Kumara wedges with housemade aioli > 8.00 Sides Creamy mash, Seasonal vegetables, Green salad 6.50 eachChunky potato fries with tomato sauce > 6.50 Vegetarian meal options on request Crispy limed spiced squid with dipping sauce and side salad > 12.50Fishermans Basket > 12.50 DessertsAll 12.00Battered fish bites, prawn cutlets & squid rings served on a bed ofgolden fries with dipping sauces > Warm sticky date pudding, caramel sauce and vanilla icecream > Chocolate brownie, Kapiti triple chocolate ice ream, chocolate sauce Green Salad > 6.50 > Oven baked apple slice with warm thick and creamy vanilla custardA bowl of fresh mesclun & seasonal produce tossed in olive oil &balsamic vinaigrette 15% surcharge applies all public holidays winter dining Specials:Monday night dine in Pizza: Buy one, get one free.wednesday nights: Children (under 12) dine free. Open 6 days (MOn-sat) 4pM tO late pHOne 868 6828beach/life | 9 10. Time for new owners to whats up? benefit from the makeover THE TSuNAMI BAR AND BRASSERIE, WAINuIS POPuLAR BARdaughter, Ruby Rose, and living in Douglas Street, Okitu, Wainui and family dining restaurant is on the market. After two years in theBeach. ownership of Maurice Judd and Guy Rutledge and Ray and Gail With the guidance of the Tsunami Bar directors, Neil has helped Dalton, the partners say its time to realise the investment. steer the local bar and brasserie on a steady course where it is nowThe partners took over the former Sandbarwell and truly serving the needs of both the in late 2006 and have spent a great deal of local community and the travelling public. time and money giving the Oneroa RoadAs well as looking after the bar and establishment a total makeover. restaurant Neil has also had time to completeA completely new kitchen, new bar anda Certificate in Viticulture and Winemaking at serving facilities, new furnishings, newTairawhiti Polytechnics Waimata Winery. computer and security systems, a state-of- He hopes to do more study and pass more the-art sound system nothing was spared papers first, so he can eventually become a towards attaining the goal of a creating a barqualified winemaker. and restaurant equal to Aucklands best. Early attempts to set up the restaurant asWhile on the market, the bar continues toa fine dining experience have been relaxed operate and these days is run by managerand nowdays the bar is ticking over nicely Neil Aitkenhead. The Belfast born 35-year-old,as a family style dining experience with a married to a Gisborne girl, Amber Creswell, menu and prices to reflect the needs of the now calls himself a Kiwi, and has been a real local community. bonus for the Tsunami Bar since he started asFor the rest of the winter the Tsunami Bar manager last January. and Brasserie will be open six days a week,Neil left the Emerald Isle ten years ago for Monday to Saturday, from 4pm. Winter dining a new life Down under and ended up runningincentives include Wednesday nights where Kitty OSheas Irish Bar in Wellington. children under 12 get to dine for free and onIt was here he met Amber Creswell, a Monday nights, dine-in pizzas are two for the Gisborne girl working in Wellington. Now they price of one. are married, with a lovely little three year oldTsunami Bar manager Neil Aitkenhead. Wainui Beachs reliable water supplyDRIVER/OPERATIONS MANAGER:As a Wainui Beach homeowner, Greg Judd ofJudd Water Supplies knows the importanceof a reliable, clean source of household waterfor those times when the tanks run dry.Call the biggreen truck! 15500 litresof quality citywater perload. Phone 867 6028 Greg Judd Mobile 027 230 2464 WATER SUPPLIES 10 | beach/life 11. Beach/life plans to run regular stories about the success of our kids, at home and our kids abroad. Send suggestions to info@beach-life.co.nz.First officer Kurt flies the indonesian skiesFLYING COLOURS: Kurt Mastrovich,son of Kevin and Jill, is a formerWainui School boy who dreamed ofbecoming an airline pilot and is nowrealising that dream in Indonesia. Kurt mastrovich was one of those boys who wanted to grow up to be a pilot. And guess what, he did. its not an easy career to chase. its expensive, its difficult and there are never any guarantees. But 23-year-old Kurt has recently landed a fulltime job flying for a commercial airline in indonesia. This is his story.I HAD ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN FLYING AND AFTER becoming the Operations Controller where I was responsible for the visiting the flight deck on the way home from the 1999 Lytton High smooth running of a school that had 12 aircraft, 11 instructors and Japan-Malaysia trip I decided it was definitely what I wanted to do100 students. for a job.In May this year I started working for an airline in Indonesia called I went to Wainui Beach Primary School between 1990 and 1995. Susi Air. I saw the job advertised on an Australian pilots union It was an awesome primary school and I remember being very upset website. I am flying as a First Officer on Cessnas top-of-the-line at the prospect that I was going to have to go to another school Grand Caravans which seat twelve passengers. as I got older. There were some great teachers; my first was MrsOut of fifty pilots, most of whom are expatriates, I am one of seven Manning who later became the Principal. Other greats who I will notNew Zealanders. As First Officers we move around the bases to forget include Mrs Collier, Mr Parker, Mrs Bartje and Mrs Rowland. build experience in different environments.Wainui was very progressive. I was introduced to computers So far I have spent one month in Pangandaran, West Java, two straight away with the school having an Amiga 500 in eachmonths in Medan, North Sumatra, one month in Jakarta and I am classroom. Early on I joined the Computer Club and then begannow at our base in Sentani, Papua for a month. teaching other students how to use computers. While our bases are all at major airports most of our destinationsAfter Wainui I went to Ilminster Intermediate and had to endure the are small airports serving small communities. This gives us a lot pink shirts which turned out to be quite liveable given 300 otherof variety flying over large smog covered cities, across jungle, and students were wearing the same thing and then I went to Lytton Highhopping between small islands. Most legs are no longer than an School from 1998, becoming Head Prefect in my final year.hour. Its an incredibly fun job and gives me a chance to travel the In 1999 I was went on a school trip to Japan and Malaysia, it wascountry and see the rest of Asia. definitely a pivotal moment. I got to see a different part of the world With my student loan up around the $80,000 mark I was very and on the flight home got to sit up the pointy end with the pilotsfortunate to get my first flying job with only 240 hours total flying as we flew over Indonesia. time. In New Zealand especially you need to have hundreds moreIn 2003 I began my Bachelor of Aviation at the Palmerston North hours to get into a flying job like this. campus of the Massey university School of Aviation. I didnt actually I guess I always thought I would try to fly for big airlines like do my first flight until then. Air New Zealand but having been here for four months and reallyDuring the three year degree I took 32 academic papers andenjoying the flying and travelling I am not in such a rush anymore. also gained my Commercial Pilots Licence and Instrument Rating At this stage I intend to stay here for a couple of years which will at Privileges among other aviation qualifications.least be enough time to get my captaincy and a decent amount ofIn 2007 I returned to the School of Aviation as a member of staff,pilot-in-command hours on the aircraft. beach/life | 11 12. rays gone from clean to superClean whats up? started a seperate business dedicated tothis service. The result is Superclean and now Ray, inhis brightly signwritten Superclean van, is acommon sight to see heading in and out ofthe beach on jobs. The engine room of the new business isa Hydromaster Boxxer 421 truck-mountedsteam cleaning unit. Worldwide this machineis considered the Rolls Royce of carpetcleaners. The compact 421 is a smooth, low noise,low vibration machine with exceptionalcleaning performance. The units adjustableheat feature allows fine-tuning from 160to 240F allowing for the safe cleaning ofeven delicate fabrics. The pressure can bedialed up to 1000 PSI when tile and groutcleaning or pressure washing is needed. The KEEN TO CLEAN: Ray Morgan demonstrates the efficiency of his new carpet cleaning businessHydromaster can also be used to remove based around his mobile van and steam cleaning system.water after flooding. RAY MORGAN IS A vERY CLEAN GuY.started in the business after moonlighting As Rays website says: Whether youre Cant get any dirt on this Douglas Streetto make extra income when the kidsmoving into a new house, out of an old local. In fact hes SuperClean.were young. He got to know the cleaning one, or looking to increase the valueRay and wife Bronwyn have beenbusiness, bought his own equipment, wentand protection of your rental property, operating Ray Morgan Cleaning Services out fulltime and now has a staff of eight SuperClean Carpet and upholstery Cleaning for 20 years now. And just recently theyvelooking after many of the big commercialServices has the knowledge and technology started SuperClean, a sideline to their busy cleaning contracts around the city. you need to ensure your carpets and commercial cleaning business, with a state- Noticing an increase in the number ofupholstery receive the care and attention of-the-art mobile, carpet and upholstery requests for specialised carpet cleans, they deserve. Dont risk your money on steam cleaning system. Ray decided earlier this year to invest inan inferior cleaning service contact usLike a lot of commercial cleaners Ray a dedicated carpet cleaning unit and so today!Carpet and upholster y cleaning to the highest standard PROTECT YOUR MOST VALUABLE INVESTMENT Safe, non toxic system Reduce/remove unattractive stains & soiling Reduces damage to your carpet from sand / soil particles Kills & removes dust mites & allergents Remove smells & odours from carpets not cleaned regularlyPROTECT YOUR CHILDREN & PETS Less bacteria in your home Non-toxic/non-allergenic Help Prevent pet soiling by removing previous pet odours Safer environment for asthma and allergen-sensitive people Peace of mind for you & your familyIMPROVE THE OVERALL HEALTH QUALITY OF YOUR HOME Affordable means of ensuring clean carpets & upholstery Less dust, hair, and other nasty particles in your home Fast drying ensures minimal air moisture Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Services Breathe easier with less dust mites and other creepy-crawlies Save time, effort and money without sacrificing cleanlinessCall Ray Morgan20 years experience in cleaning industry0800 000668 10 years in carpets & upholsteryinfo@superclean.net.nz12 | beach/life 13. whats up? A treat in store at Wainui Beach THE FOLKS THAT BROuGHT YOu CAF Ruba, and then Caf villaggio, now bring you The Wainui Store. And what a bonus to the beach the all new Wainui Store is!Experienced restaurateurs David and Amy Whitfield, with Amys brother Marcel Campbell, recently took on the lease of the Wainui Store in Oneroa Road and have since turned it into classic mix of localBRIGHT AND CHEERFUL: Local dairy, fish and chip shop, burger bar, caf, organic veges and dairy, caf, takeaway bar, fish and chip gourmet items theres a lot going on at the new Wainui Store. shop and gourmet food outlet.After selling both Caf Ruba in Childersbrand. The result is top quality caf coffee real meat sausages custom-made at the Road and Caf villaggio in the Ballanceat the beach. The coffee is proving hugely Ballance Street Butchery. Street village last year, David and Amypopular with David saying they are now The hamburgers are a real treat too, took some time out, went back to visit making more cups of coffee at Wainui on acreated with a chefs eye for both gourmet Davids family in England and sat around weekly basis than they did at Caf Ruba. and classic Kiwi tastes. thinking about what to do on their return toThe Whitfields are also making useThe two centimetre thick beef patties Gisborne.of their ties with the caf industry byare grilled to perfection and added to the As they live in Wheatstone Road, and accessing a few wholesale gourmet food hot buns with local lettuce and garnishings the old Wainui Store was their local dairy,products, items you wouldnt usually including a tasty olive and tomato relish. they began talking about what they could expect to find in a local dairy. The fish burgers are fresh whole tarahiki do with the shop if they were able to get Items like pasta, risotto rice andfillets with homemade aioli dressing. Paua, the lease. olives are just a start to a growing line of veggie and cheese burgers are menuBack home in March this year, Marceldelicatessen items. Theyre also stockingoptions. also became enthusiastic about the organic vegetables and free range eggs. The Wainui Store is open seven days concept of turning the dairy into a vibrantA Bose sound system wafting good music from 7am. Monday and Tuesday to 7pm community store and takeaway food outlet.throughout the store is another little cafand Wednesday to Sunday to 8pm. They approached the former owners whoextra. The takeaway food bar is serving in the were happy to hand over the lease.On the takeaway food side of theevenings only, Wednesday to Sunday, from The first thing they did was gut the business, David says they have imported5pm. building and renovate the interior into thethe same quality standards from their At the moment this works best for us, bigger, brighter premises it now is. restaurant experiences, the difference David says. It means we can keep thebeing the food is wrapped in newspaper quality under control. Its difficult to keep aWe really thought hard about what therather than served on plates.kitchen hot and ready all day just to make community would want and as we were also customers what we would want in aThey use only soya oil for the deep fryer the odd burger and a punnet of chips. local store, apart from the usual milk, paperand this is changed daily. Theyve installed However we will look at opening longer as and bread, says David.three-phase power so they can keep the summer comes around.heat up, which is of prime importance Another feature of the new Wainui StoreWhile weve designed it and branded itwhen frying. They buy fresh fish, usuallyis an outdoor seating and eating area on to give off all the nice feelings of a classiclocally caught tarakihi from Gisbornethe beach side of the shop. This is still a Kiwi corner store, complete with scoop inFisheries, which is usually fresh off thework in progress and will be developed the cone ice creams, weve added a fewboat. Its so fresh theyre often still filleting more into the summer months. trendy extras like a commercial espressoit when we go for supplies, says David. coffee machine, and a takeaway food So there it is. The all new, really cool, kitchen based on the technology andThe fish is served in either a batterWainui Store espresso coffees, beer- quality controls we used when running ourmade from Gisborne Gold beer or a mix of battered fish and chips, custom-made hot restaurants.export quality crumbs with added seeds dogs, organic vegetables just anotherand spices. The chips are from the alsocompelling reason to love living at the David bought a ex-caf espressobought locally and cooked in the very hot, beach! machine on Trade Me and has continued aneutral-flavoured soya oil. The hot dogs are long association with the Supreme coffeePhone for takeaways: 867 8446.beach/life | 13 14. Beach/life plans to run regular stories about the success of our kids, at home and abroad. Send suggestions to info@beach-life.co.nz.our kids our mikes big push for olympic selectionIF MICHAEL KINGS TRAINING PAYS OFF OvER THE NEXT TWO years, Wainui Beach may very well be watching its first born-at-the- beach Olympic athlete competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Mike is vying to be selected as a final member of the four-man Kiwi bobsled team for the vancouver Games. On September 4 he leaves for Canada with the 8-man selection squad for an intensive training camp, on actual ice for the first time, at the 1988 Winter Olympic Stadium in Calgary. Mike will then spend much of our summer commuting to the ice and snow of North Americas winter. They will be competing in a series of events starting with the Americas Cup in November, followed by World Cup and European Cup events and then the World Championships at Lake Placid, New York, at the end of February. Mike, now aged 25, son of Steve and Sue King, got into the sport via his Gisborne friend, Otago university student Michael Coutts, who has already represented the country at various international competitions, including the junior world championships, in the one- man bobsled skeleton discipline. He trialed with over 70 others as part of a SPARC talent identification project that has the aim of the Zealand bobsledding team making the top 10 in the 2010 Winter Olympics. The final eight will be reduced to four before the Olympic Games. If successful, Mike will have the second man position in the team, the man behind the driver. Mikes coach is bobsledding legend, Gerd Grimme, former head coach of the Canadian team, who has also coached and directed bobsleigh for the Netherlands, Norway and Germany. Weight and speed are the key to Mikes position, attributes gained from both surf life saving, particularly beach sprinting, and rugby. The Wainui surf lifesaver and HSOB premier rugby team member has so far reached the 106 kilogram mark of his aim to get to 112kg. Mike, who went to Wainui School, gained a sports degree from Waikato university and then trained to be a secondary school teacher at Victoria. He returned home recently after five years working as a PE teacher in Wellington and last January was married to Cate Busby, daughter of Bill and Meg Busby of Tokomaru Bay (see our weddings page). They live in Lloyd George Road. Cate, a clothing designer at New Wave Surfboards, is fully supportive of Mikes Olympic bid and the couple is looking forward to possibly combining a bit of OE while Mikes attends events in Europe. Though the squad get sick of the Cool Runnings comments, Mike admits it is a pretty similar scenario. A bunch of guys with no money, little experience, with big dreams and a former world famous coach. On the subject of no money, Mike says thanks to Brent Simpson at Charcoal Chicken who is donating him $1 from every bottle of Powerade sold at the shop, and Mike is keen to hear from any other local company interested in supporting or sponsoring him. There is also a promotion included in this magazine to help Mike with some of the early personal costs involved in his Olympic bid. OLYMPIC DREAMS: Michael King is training hard to make the Mike works as a sports development officer at Sports Gisborne who New Zealand bobsled team for the 2010 Winter Olympics. he says are supportive of his once in a lifetime bid for Olympic glory.14 | beach/life 15. Protect plants, stop beach weddings weeds and save water with garden bark from Judd Bark SuppliesGood for the Earth!Recycled greenwaste products Organic Compost ......... cubic metre $50 Use for raised beds, improve the structure of your soil Bark (Nos. 2,3,4) ............. cubic metre $50 Weed control, low maintenance, moisture retention Forest Floor Bark .......... cubic metre$32 Style and texture, weed control, moisture retention GANDER-TANNER: It was a 1960s hippyish style garden wedding at their home in Murphy Road for English emigrants Phoebe Tanner and Tim Gander on April 26. Phoebe is a talented artist and photographer, Carpet Belt Bark ........... cubic metre$26 currently working at the Gisborne Herald, although soon to go on maternity leave as their first baby is due in November. Tim is a PE Economical weed control, mositure retention teacher at Boys High. We emigrated in 2005 because of the lifestyle here, says Phoebe. This is the perfect place to bring up a family, and we feel so privileged to be able to live at Wainui, it really is a dream All Products + Tub Mix available in 40 litre bags.come true. PHOTO BY BRETT MEAD PHOTOGRAPHYWe take and recycle all garden greenwaste. Clean, user-friendlyand very competitive charges.BARK SUPPLIES Mon to Fri: 7.30am to 4.30pmSat & Sun: 9am to 2pmMacDonald Road, Matawhero Phone 867 6028WILLIAMS-CARROLL: Wainui beach boy Dion Williams went looking for mid-winter sunshine in Rarotonga where he and Nicola were married on July 26 in the company of a small gathering of family and friends.beach/life | 15 16. beach weddings KING-BUSBY: On Saturday January 19 at All Saints Church, Tokomaru Bay, Catharine Helen Busby married Michael Daniel King of Wainui Beach. Cate is the daughter of Meg and Bill Busby from Rahiri Station near Tokomaru Bay. Mike is the son of Steve and Sue King. CHAPMAN-MOSS: Nick Chapman and Louisa Moss were married at the beach on February 16 this year. Nick is a school teacher and local lad, well- known around the surf breaks, and Louisa is his imported English bride, a lawyer now working at Egan and Kite. Nick and Louisa live in Lysnar Street. PHOTO BY BEAUTIFUL DAY PHOTOGRAPHY AMOR-BENDALL: Sounds like a goodname for a wine label! Noel andAlison were officially blended at theirWheatstone Road home on May 31 thisyear, followed by a party at the MoanaRoad winery. In the wedding partywere Connor Amor-Bendall, ImogenAmor Bendall, Alison Bendall, celebrantNorman McLean, Noel Amor and sonsChase and Blaise Houston Amor. You can now browse our impressive ranges of premium kitchenware and appliances online www.shopatinteriors.co.nz Kitchenware and appliances from around the world Impressive selection of soft furnishings and blinds Gladstone RoadPhone 867 9145the kitchen shopinfo@shopatinteriors.co.nz 16 | beach/life 17. beach babes The population of wainui and Makorori Beaches has been steadily climbing over the past year or so with an amazing number of babies being born at the beach. Many of the new babies are second generation residents. On this page we introduce you to the newbies we could locate, and if we missed anyone, let us know, as we will update this page each issue.Boardroom owners Tom and HayleyDalton are so happy to have Jett nicholasdalton on the surf team. Jett, weighing in ata chart topping 9lb 10oz, arrived on Fridayafternoon June 6th, just in time for Fridaydrinks at grandma and grandpas. Definitely bound for equestrian glory is second generation Wainuian Toby david Rugged up and strapped in for a winters lane (born at 6lb 12oz on the 28th of May),walk along the beach is Jacob Christian pictured here with mum Sarah Aitken. Gilmour, who arrived on the scene weighing Sarahs mum and dad, Trudy and David 9lb 3oz on Tuesday, March 4th. His mum and Aitken, have lived at the beach for thirty dad Steve and Caroline Gilmour are living years or more. Sarah, Tom and Toby are along Moana Road. Mum is originally from living on the farm at the of Lysnar Street South Africa and is an ER doctor at Gisborne where Sarah is running her riding school and Hospital. Dad is from Wanganui. Tom breeds polo ponies. New Makorori resident is Jade isabella Stirton, a grand child for John and Jan Stirton of Sirrah Street. Dad Kane Stirton is Wainui born and bred and mum Leanne Harrison is an Aussie import by way of Auckland, but has owned a house at the end of Makorori Beach for nearly ten years now. Leanne is a social environmental planner working part time for a Wellington based consultancy firm from home via the internet.beach/life | 17 18. The ever expanding Ryan family welcomed the six week early arrival of daniel darryn Ryan at 4lb 3oz on Wednesday, February 27. Daniel is a healthy, happy little brother to Brie 6 and Jay 2. Caroline is a full-time mum to the Ryan crew of Douglas Street and dad Kelly is a popular Lytton high school teacher and well known for his longboard surfing exploits. Kelly is also Beach/Life surfing correspondent. See page 40. Meet Perle Moana Rasby, born at 7lb 2oz on Sunday, February 10, to Brent Young Razza and Helena. Brent is the son of Bob Old Razza and the late Kathy, growing up at the beach in Murphy Road. Helena is an osteopath and a French import from Normandy, who came to Gisborne to learn to surf and works with the Frenchmen at ECO Osteo. Brent is a nurse at Gisborne Hospital. A second generation Wairere Roadian is Matua Kowhai Judd, born at8lb 8oz on Monday, September 15 last year, and a happy little boy for Gregand Huia Judd and a grandchild for Bruce and well-known Wainui artist ErikaHolden. Greg is the son of Denzil and Rose Judd of Matawhero, and hes thefriendly fellow who drives the D.B. Judd Holdings water truck when neededand is operations manager for the family firm. 18 | beach/life 19. our issues Post reticulation submission blues The people of wainui Beach took on City hall. The Council wanted sewage reticulation, the people as it turned out didnt. in the face of unprecedented, organised and coherent opposition the Gisborne district Council had no option but to back down. we won the war, but now we have to face up to the responsibilities of the peace. The Council is already working on the terms of the treaty. and, looming on the horizon, is the Governments Proposed national environmental Standard for On-site wastewater Systems. On 27 MaRCh 2008 The GiSBORne diSTRiCT COunCil Council says: Some said that this need should be established approved a severely amended 2008-2009 annual Plan. Thebeyond reasonable doubt. The typical threshold for local Council would not proceed with reticulation of wastewater government is lower, i.e. the precautionary principle. It is and water at wainui Beach and wastewater at Makorori. acknowledged that for a scheme, of the cost of the one proposed, The Council had earlier received a record 416 submissions the current state of knowledge about the environmental and health relating to the reticulation proposal. Over 400 of these were risks does not justify proceeding with the proposal. against reticulation proceeding. hearings on submissions were held over four days at which 110 people spoke to their Health risk not clearly established submissions.SOME SuBMITTERS SAID THAT THE COuNCIL SHOuLD GIvE There was something refreshing and organic about thepriority to sorting out the future of the citys wastewater treatment wainui uprising. There was a website. There were meetings.upgrade first. While many acknowledged septic tank cleanings There was a newsletter. local folk got to their feet and were would end up in the city system, many said that it didnt make sense counted. it was democracy in action. The Council listened.to add to the burden on Poverty Bay without first resolving the citys in the wake of the decision not to proceed with the wastewater issues. plan for reticulation the Council has answered some In its report Council says: There is no clear evidence of immediate of the plethora of suggestions, challenges, allegations and unequivocal ecological damage as a result of current and presumptions that came out in the submissions. allwastewater practices. Likewise, there is no clear evidence of public submitters have since been posted a copy of this. health issues as a result of wastewater contamination of ground and surface water in the communities that can be directly linked to wastewater treatment practice. Consultation did not meet expectation It has not been clearly established which proportions of SOME SuBMISSIONS MADE ALLEGATIONS OF A LACK OF surface and ground water contamination at Wainui and Okitu consultation and a lack of transparency in the Gisborne District and Sponge Bay is a result of runoff from farmland above the Councils decision making process.residential communities and that it has not been clearly establishedIn its post-submissions report Council says: Whilst the Councilswhich proportions of the current contamination are derived from intentions with previous consultation efforts were genuine, submittersagricultural and residential activities. indicated that it did not meet everyones needs and preferences. WhileIt is fair to say that the proposals were based on the the volume of information provided was ample, many people did not precautionary principle that a medium sized concentrated feel engaged.beachside community such as Wainui/Okitu/Sponge Bay andMany people felt that the process was not one of consultation as Makorori would have an environmentally more sustainable future they felt that the Council had predetermined the outcome. if reticulated water supply and wastewater disposal systems wereSome submitters expressed concern that the Council had put available. forward few options and alternatives during its consultative process. In essence, the Council still believes that proposition is valid. There was a suggestion that the pursuit of reticulation was a dogma.Nevertheless, in view of the submissions received and submittersCouncil has answered this by saying it appeared not well listened to, Council is prepared to accept that it is possible to understood that a decision-in-principle to reticulate had been takencontemplate a continuation of the on-site wastewater disposal earlier and that the officers had been requested to prepare a fully practices. costed proposal, that would be subject to the special consultativeIt acknowledges that many wastewater systems are capable of procedure. An options analysis was part of the Proposal; six otherproviding acceptable outcomes and that wastewater technologies options were analysed, including the Proposal.are improving, thus allowing future improvements to be made in theirWith the benefit of hindsight and based on the views of submitters, individual and collective performance. Council notes that the analysis was not as thorough as it could There is a need for ongoing monitoring of the effects of on-site have been especially given the significant increase in the cost of thewastewater treatment, as well as a review of the requirements of proposal since 2006, Council says. Councils Wastewater Discharges Plan. Such regulatory intervention Many submitters believed that the need to reticulate had not been can be further developed and agreed to by Council, the Wainui/ established.Okitu/Sponge Bay communities and other stakeholders.beach/life | 19 20. some implications for the Gisborne communitys wish to increase residential development and to allow its attractive seaside areas to be developed so that more people can live there. The exact effect of this is not easy to calculate, but it could be in the order of one to two hundred fewer household units not being able to be accommodated here.As the proposed Plan change 37 primarily envisaged a future of a Wainui Beach reticulated for sewage disposal and city water supply, Council believes is now appropriate to withdraw Plan change 37. In consultation with the local community, Council willDEVELOPERS SILENT: Many people believed reticulation wasbeing driven by a conspiracy between land developers and consider whether a future Planthe Council. Councillors were indignant at such allegations. change should be promoted.In that case a new proposal would be developed which isclearly based on a non-reticulated future for the communities, and Was it really about urban development? which is more specifically in line with many of the ecological and COuNCIL ALSO FIELDED ALLEGATIONS BY SuBMITTERS WHO sustainability objectives that were clearly in the minds of many believed the real reason for the reticulation proposal was the wish to submitters to the reticulation proposals. increase residential development at the beachside settlements.The implication was that it should not be up to the local community of Wainui and Okitu to fund 90 per cent of a proposalWe could never have paid for it that would allow development that would be of benefit to the wider COuNCIL NOW ADMITS THAT THE SuBMISSION AND Gisborne community.hearing process clearly established that the social and Council agreed that a desire to see some of the beachseconomic implications were significantly larger than had development potential realised was a clear component of thebeen originally anticipated. reasons why reticulation has been promoted. It says the genesis of the reticulation proposal comes The Urban Coastal Strategy, that was adopted in 2005, points from a time where per-household cost was estimated in to significant financial benefits to Wainui/Okitu/Sponge Bay the region of $5,000-$7,500. landowners if new development opportunities were created. The Special Consultative Procedure had sinceAccording to Council the Urban Coastal Strategy had fivedemonstrated that the more likely cost of $25,000- general objectives. The first of these was to encourage controlled $30,000 per household scheme imposed a significant development in areas attractive to potential new residents.financial burden on the community.The Strategy was explicit in stating that it provided for limited Council now acknowledges that whilst some further residential development and signalled the need to review households might have been be able to afford such costs, land use controls, and/or rezoning of land, to allow for further there would have been degrees of financial hardship for a residential development, Council says.substantial numbers of households.These intentions were given effect to by both the reticulationThe Council report says: On reading the submissions proposals and Proposed Plan Change 37 to the Councils Districtand listening to the presentations of community members Plan. The latter sought to set planning objectives to promote andat the hearing, the Council has come to the conclusion maintain environmental quality and special community character that the economic effects of a decision to continue with whilst allowing for development to slightly higher densities.the proposal was likely to have been severe for manyThis would have been enabled by reticulation which meant thathouseholds. minimum site areas for residential development were no longer Council says this may have meant the possibility that governed by the constraints of on-site wastewater treatment. some people, including people on lower and mediumThe Plan change sought to limit density to one unit per 800household incomes, people with small children and the square metres, not too much lower than the current constraints elderly would have been forced to sell their homes and posed by the on-site wastewater treatment that generally requiresleave the community. around 1000 square metres of land per household unit. Council regards such effects as undesirable andA raft of other controls to limit adverse effects of new residential contrary to the social and economic wellbeing of these development was also part of the Plan change. communities.Council believes that these controls were such that expressedBut, as a warning, Council says it is acknowledged that fears of large scale urbanisation, similar to Australias Gold Coast orby making the decision it has, Council is likely to require Mount Maunganui and Papamoa, were unfounded. some households to upgrade their disposal systems.Council says the rejection of the proposal to reticulate will have 20 | beach/life 21. Council and community will work together to plan a sustainable future A small group of Wainui resident volunteers have had two exploratory meetings with officers of the Gisborne District Council to discuss how to best to set up a collaboration between the Council and Wainui residents in the wake of the rejection of the reticulation proposal.CONCERNED AT SuGGESTIONS OF INADEquATE CONSuLTATIONthat there were no sour grapes involved in the wake of the during the reticulation submission process, the Council is keen to reticulation proposal rejection. They said they were committed to a establish a partnership between Council and the beach communitypositive way forward, facing good challenges and the opportunity to discuss and plan future environmental and development issues. of developing good working relationships.The GDC officers want to establish a framework for a proposed collaborative process that can be developed and reported to a full Council meeting on October 30.step by step towards an on-siteThe Wainui residents present at both meetings with GDC staff (July 28 and August 19) are aware that they have no mandate or authority wastewater management plan to be representing their community. They were invited to attend thehow a collaborative approach to achieve an on-site meetings as they were the recognisable people behind a loose group waste water disposal programme might proceed: who worked on the campaign to urge Wainui people to oppose Develop goals with key stakeholders. reticulation. Review the current situation and identify existing gaps inOn Sunday, August 3, when Wainui people gathered for awastewater management, including risk assessment and community get-together post-reticulation proposal, those who hadanalytical data. been at the 28 July GDC meeting took the opportunity to update the Develop options for the best management programme for the 60 or so people on what was being discussed as a way to get planningcommunity taking into account the environmental, economic, underway for a collaborative way forward.social and cultural well-beings.It was suggested that about five community members be identified Develop options for the implementation of the various to meet with GDC on behalf of Wainui-Okitu to draft plans (not makecomponents of the management programme: participation, decisions). The majority at the meeting felt it was important thatplanning design, installation, operation, maintenance, representatives from the community who would work with Councilmonitoring and compliance, enforcement. would need to be nominated and elected. Develop methods to ensure implementation of theGDC CEO Lindsay McKenzie has since prepared a memo whichmanagement plan, permits regular Warrant of Fitness explains the early work undertaken so far to form a collaboration andchecks, administration. deals with the issue of representation. Develop monitoring processes to ensure effectiveness of andHe believes that some work towards setting up a formalcompliance with the management programme. collaboration can proceed before a formal election takes place. Develop education plans; develop funding options; developMr McKenzie says Council staff have begun to prepare a proposaltimeframe for implementation; develop approaches for those for how a collaborative approach can be given effect. He says its hisproperties where on-site waste disposal is not practical or intention to invite some Wainui-Okitu community members to be apossible. short-term reference group.Contact has been made with some of the people who thehow a management programme might operate: community identified as leading the call for sustainable on-site 1. Initial inspection and assessment of all sites. wastewater disposal, and they have agreed to assist in that role.2. Failing systems to be upgraded immediately.The first task is to prepare a proposal on a collaborative approach 3. upgrading to be related to lot size, coverage, soil types and for Council and community consideration. tank type.In my opinion the first stage of the work does not warrant 4. All non-compliant (but not failing) systems to be upgraded widespread or formal community representation as the task is towhen property is sold. prepare a proposal a work plan, processes and budget - for 5. Annual inspections and monitoring. Council and the community to consider. 6. Systems to be upgraded if and when future inspectionsA small reference group is all that is needed (at this stage) and I am show failures. intending that we should proceed on that basis. 7. Annual charges to cover monitoring and inspections.Mr McKenzie says neither the GDC staff nor the reference group8. Programmed tank emptying on, say, 3 year cycle. have any authority to formally decide anything.9. Planning controls to limit (average) lot sizes to 1000m plus.He says only after the implementation of a formal collaboration 10. Planning controls to limit lot sizes to problem sites, e.g. soil would the decisions about the environmental and regulatory framework type, topography, depth to groundwater. proceed. Issues the collaboration would focus on would include storm 11. Planning controls to limit size coverage of impervious water investigations, ground water monitoring and investigations intosurfaces. alternative waste water disposal methods for people for whom on-site 12. All sites to have water tanks - to reduce stormwater runoff. disposal is not an option. EXCERPT FROM THE GDC POST SUBMISSIONS REPORTAt the conclusion of the July 28 meeting GDC staff all agreed beach/life | 21 22. Your septic tank and you ... You said no to reticulation. For now and into the future it all goes down Your drain and into Your backyard. The last thing you want is a septic system failure.SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS ARE ON-SITE, SELF-CONTAINED, Some systems, especially those installed or renewed since the mini-sewage plants designed to safely dispose of biological sanitaryearly 1980s, may consist of two separate tanks one tank for the waste within the boundaries of its owners property.toilets, kitchen sink and dishwasher (brown water) and a smaller A septic tank system consists of two main parts a septic side-tank for the washing machine water (grey water). These may tank where natural bacterial action decomposes human waste intoshare the drainfield or have separate fields. environmentally acceptable components and a dispersion field.This is to stop the high volume of waste water from modern Also called a drainfield or effluent field. washing machines flushing through the septic tank disturbing the The septic tank contains water, sludge and scum. The sludge isbacterial decomposing and separating process. the pooey, gooey stuff that sinks to the bottom of the tank and theConventional septic systems are not care free. They require scum is the fatty crust that floats on the top of the tank. The sludgeregular maintenance. The undigested solids in the septic tank is mostly decomposed faeces and food scraps and the scum is fat should be pumped out every two to four years. If the sludge is >>> and soap residue.Between the scum and the sludge is the water the water youDo you know when use to flush the toilets, empty out of your kitchen sink, bath and shower. Each time you flush the toilet or empty the sink Archimedes Principal comes into effect an equal weight of liquid overflows from the other end of the septic tank out into the drainfield, buried beneath your garden. your septic tank wasThe liquid leaving the tank should have had time to become separated from its accompanying faeces, toilet paper, food, soap last cleaned out? residue and should be quite clear if you are using your system with Just as your car requires regular maintenance, so does the care it needs to operate properly. your septic tank system As time goes by the scum and the sludge builds and as the layers get thicker, the water layer gets narrower and periodically the whole As a general rule your tank should be inspected thing needs to be stirred up into a slurry, pumped out and disposed annually and pumped out every 2-3 years. of. This is important to realise your poos, toilet paper, food gunk, soap residue arent disposed of in the septic tank, merely collectedIf your system is not maintained regularly the build for disposal later, usually every three years or so.up of solid material and fat can block up your effluentAny gases created in the process are vented to the atmospheresystem and cause thousands of dollars worth of via the plumbing vent system (the mushroom). Its also very damage. important to make sure the mushroom vent is clear and able to With a fleet of three purpose-built liquid waste suction breath. trucks, we have the ability to respond when you needFrom the septic tank, the relatively clear liquid flows out to us. We also have a new truck designed for accessing disperse over a large, sub-soil, drainfield consisting of a rock-filled properties with limited access space or for small jobs. trench, or network of trenches. The trench material defines the drainfield from the surrounding soil and acts as a filter to remove We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 remaining small solids that may be suspended in the liquid. days a year to respond to urgent jobs.This liquid seeps through the rock material and into the We use WasteTRACK. The New Zealand Waste surrounding sub-soil where it becomes part of the moist sub-soilTracking System. This system is designed to track environment.waste carted from your site to the final disposal site, with independent verification that the waste has been Vent or muShroomliD For cleaning disposed of correctly and legally.> From houSeDrainFielD > Scum liQuiD 70 Innes Street Gisborne Phone 8686007SluDge office@baywaste.co.nzwww. baywaste.co.nz SERVICING GISBOR NE FOR OVER 30 YE AR S 22 | beach/life 23. >beach/life | 27 28. GRUESOME JOB: One of the biggest of the 59 sperm whales is dragged along the beach to be buried in the mass grave. > beach/life | 33 34.