News in brief
Tobin Van Boekhout-McKenzie, Morgan Grove-Roberts and Chalome Laitflang’s trio were among the six performances at the Motueka Library last week for NZ Music Month. Photo: Elise Vollweiler.
Books and beats
Motueka High School hit the right note during their NZ Music Month concert at the Motueka Library – Te Noninga Kumu last week. Taylor Fulop, performing a solo, and Tobin Van Boekhout-McKenzie, Morgan Grove-Roberts and Chalome Laitflang’s trio, were among the six performances, with about 35 people in attendance.
Writer swaps sea for soil in High Heels and Gumboots
Award-winning Nelson writer Rebecca Hayter is back with High Heels and Gumboots, a sharp, funny memoir about swapping city life for muddy paddocks—and learning the hard way. Inspired by her hit column, also called High Heels and Gumboots, in North & South magazine, it is a heartwarming and brutally honest take on rural life. With more than 30 years of writing experience—mainly focused on boats for Boating New Zealand and earning her 15 journalism awards—she made a major life change in 2015 at the age of 52, leaving Auckland for her hometown of Golden Bay. She says the memoir is more than just a story about rural life—it's about returning to your roots, healing, and finding resolution in a complex mother-daughter relationship, with themes many readers will find deeply relatable. It is available from major bookstores and www.rebeccahayter.co.nz
Federated Farms urge KiwiSaver rule change
Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to deliver on National’s pre-election promise to change KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the farming ladder. On the eve of the 2023 election National pledged that, if elected to Government, they would allow young farmers to use their KiwiSaver to buy their first home, farm, herd or flock. “They made that campaign promise in Morrinsville, but 18 months later there has been no action,” says Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre. While National MP Suze Redmayne has since submitted a Members’ Bill that would address some of the issues young farmers face, Richard says that isn’t enough and young farmers across the country are being held back by outdated rules that don’t reflect the reality of farm ownership or rural employment.
Saxton antenna removal
Work began earlier week to remove the RNZ Stoke transmission mast from Saxton Field. Earlier this year RNZ retired the mast as it had reached the end of its useful life. The mast was erected 75 years ago, when Saxton Field was largely farmland.