News in brief

Driving donations for a cause

Over the month of October, The Car Company donated $50 from each car sale to Whakatū Refuge. A total of $5740 was presented to the organisation on Friday. This is the 14th year the fundraising initiative has been going and it comes at a time of year where the funds are needed the most in the lead-up to Christmas.

Remember the old red telephone box?

They used to be everywhere and taken for granted, but they’ve now been relegated to history and virtually forgotten – except on Moturoa/Rabbit Island. The old red phone box, sitting outside the old caretaker’s house on the island, has been given a facelift with a lick of bright “New Zealand Post Office” red paint. The public phone in the box used to be the only contact with the outside world 50 years ago, at a time when you could only cross the causeway to Moturoa/Rabbit Island either side of high tide.

Brightwater Fire Brigade’s fun-filled open day

The sun was shining, the BBQ was out, and the ice creams and fire trucks were ready at the Brightwater Volunteer Fire Brigade Open Day. The day offered an opportunity for the community to meet their local firefighters and learn more about fire safety. The brigade also offered free home fire safety visits, including smoke alarm installations and fire safety advice. While recent recruits have joined the team, the brigade is still seeking an extra four or five volunteers for daytime volunteer positions who are within 10 minutes of the fire station. “We respond to around 80 callouts a year, helping people when they need it most. You don’t need to be big or super fit,” Brightwater firefighter Paul Shutte says. If you’re aged 18+ and interested in finding out more email [email protected]

Appleby Reserve restrictions

Due to ongoing damage to the surrounds at Appleby Reserve,  access to the site is reducing, which will disadvantage visitors to the riverside spot on account of a few people’s actions, according to the Tasman District Council. In recent weeks, they’ve tried to curb the incidence of people riding motorbikes, quad bikes, and four-wheel drives recklessly at the reserve. This has included skidding through grass areas and plantings, tearing up the turf, as well as vandalising structures and signs. It has resulted in considerable - and costly - damage. A contractor will start work over the next few weeks to install rope around the picnic area, fencing along the stop bank, and reduce the road/parking footprint. In the past year, ratepayers have spent $22,000 on repairs and preventative measures, including replacing broken bollards, installing signage, removing a picnic space and replacing it with garden space, and installing wire rope to protect assets. That doesn’t include the price to reinstate the turf that has been ripped up, which was estimated at around $10,000.

Borlase Trail Ride

The Borlase Trail Ride fundraiser was a tremendous success, drawing around 284 dirt bike enthusiasts to the Borlase Forest near Kohatu. Hosted by the Nelson Motorcycle Club in partnership with the Richmond Scouts, the event offered an exciting day on the trails while raising vital funds. Proceeds will support the Richmond Venturers (ages 14-18) in attending the upcoming ‘Venture’ Scouting event in Wellington in December 2025, a thrilling, but expensive, ten-day adventure. With clear skies and everything running seamlessly, the day was a true highlight for both riders and organisers alike.

Triple honours for Motueka World Travellers

Motueka’s World Travellers team was delighted to scoop three awards at the World Travellers group conference in early November, winning accolades for top store, top corporate consultant in Robyn Jukes, and also the top revenue award for 2024. Business owner Silvana Gottini says that she loves “everything” about the industry, and that the team’s travel knowledge and tailored customer service is key to their success. “Between us, we’ve covered literally all parts of the globe,” she says.

Motupipi children experience the Beehive

A highlight of Motupipi School room one’s recent visit to Wellington was their tour of Parliament, which included the Beehive Theatrette, well-recognised for press conferences where politicians are grilled by the media. The children appointed a ‘Prime Minister’ and ‘Deputy Prime Minister’ to take the podium for some questions from ‘the media’ on topics as wide-ranging as longer school lunchtimes and three-day weekends. Whilst in Wellington, the children also enjoyed the Wellington Museum, Capital E, the Wellington Zoo, Te Papa and the iconic Kelburn cable car.